Multiple user (MU) short feedback response in wireless communications

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication device (alternatively, device, WDEV, etc.) includes at least one processing circuitry configured to support communications with other WDEV(s) and to generate and process signals for such communications. In some examples, the device includes a communication interface and processing circuitry, among other possible circuitries, components, elements, etc. to support communications with other WDEV(s) and to generate and process signals for such communications. The WDEV supports first communications with another WDEV to determine an agreed-upon orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource unit (RU) and agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers, adjacent or interspersed, to be used by the other WDEV to provide predetermined response(s). The WDEV then transmits a question to the WDEV and processes the plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to determine whether energy therein indicates a response of the one or more predetermined responses to the question being received from the other WDEV in accordance with second communications.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS/PATENT APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No.15/879,375, entitled “Multiple user (MU) short feedback response inwireless communications,” filed Jan. 24, 2018, which claims prioritypursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/461,640, entitled “Multiple user (MU) short feedback response inwireless communications,” filed Feb. 21, 2017; U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/464,305, entitled “Multiple user (MU) short feedbackresponse in wireless communications,” filed Feb. 27, 2017; U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/511,802, entitled “Multiple user (MU)short feedback response in wireless communications,” filed May 26, 2017;all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Applicationfor all purposes.

U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 15/879,375 claims prioritypursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, as a continuation-in-part (CIP), to U.S.Utility patent application Ser. No. 15/426,875, entitled “Multiple user(MU) short feedback response in wireless communications,” filed Feb. 7,2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,333,662 issued on Jun. 25, 2019, which claimspriority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/305,461, entitled “Multiple user (MU) short feedback response inwireless communications,” filed Mar. 8, 2016; U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/333,650, entitled “Multiple user (MU) short feedbackresponse in wireless communications,” filed My 9, 2016; U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/409,754, entitled “Multiple user (MU) short feedbackresponse in wireless communications,” filed Oct. 18, 2016; and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/452,189, entitled “Multiple user (MU)short feedback response in wireless communications,” filed Jan. 30,2017; all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Applicationfor all purposes.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems; and,more particularly, to communications to and from wireless communicationdevices within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/ormultiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communications.

Description of Related Art

Communication systems support wireless and wire lined communicationsbetween wireless and/or wire lined communication devices. The systemscan range from national and/or international cellular telephone systems,to the Internet, to point-to-point in-home wireless networks and canoperate in accordance with one or more communication standards. Forexample, wireless communication systems may operate in accordance withone or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11x (wherex may be various extensions such as a, b, n, g, etc.), Bluetooth,advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system formobile communications (GSM), etc., and/or variations thereof.

In some instances, wireless communication is made between a transmitter(TX) and receiver (RX) using single-input-single-output (SISO)communication. Another type of wireless communication issingle-input-multiple-output (SIMO) in which a single TX processes datainto radio frequency (RF) signals that are transmitted to a RX thatincludes two or more antennas and two or more RX paths.

Yet an alternative type of wireless communication ismultiple-input-single-output (MISO) in which a TX includes two or moretransmission paths that each respectively converts a correspondingportion of baseband signals into RF signals, which are transmitted viacorresponding antennas to a RX. Another type of wireless communicationis multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) in which a TX and RX eachrespectively includes multiple paths such that a TX parallel processesdata using a spatial and time encoding function to produce two or morestreams of data and a RX receives the multiple RF signals via multipleRX paths that recapture the streams of data utilizing a spatial and timedecoding function.

Various communications in wireless communications are performed forvarious purposes. Regardless of the reason for such communications, suchcommunications consume available bandwidth and occupy the communicationmedium. The prior art does not provide acceptably effective means bywhich the communication medium can be used most effectively whilemaximizing access to all wireless communication devices within suchwireless communication systems.

In addition, within prior art communication systems, channel estimation,channel characterization, and/or other operations are performed toprovide full and accurate understanding of a wireless communicationchannel to allow for effective communications. There continues to existsignificant room in the prior art for improvement in the manner by whichcommunications may be effectively made.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of dense deployment ofwireless communication devices.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of communication betweenwireless communication devices.

FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating another example of communicationbetween wireless communication devices.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing (OFDM) and/or orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA).

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDM and/or OFDMA.

FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDM and/or OFDMA.

FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDM and/or OFDMA.

FIG. 3E is a diagram illustrating an example of single-carrier (SC)signaling.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of at least one portion ofan OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating another example of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet of a second type.

FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating an example of at least one portion ofan OFDM/A packet of another type.

FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating another example of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet of a third type.

FIG. 4E is a diagram illustrating another example of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet of a fourth type.

FIG. 4F is a diagram illustrating another example of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating another example of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating another example of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating another example of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5D is a diagram illustrating another example of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5E is a diagram illustrating another example of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet.

FIG. 5F is a diagram illustrating an example of selection amongdifferent OFDM/A frame structures for use in communications betweenwireless communication devices and specifically showing OFDM/A framestructures corresponding to one or more resource units (RUs).

FIG. 5G is a diagram illustrating an example of various types ofdifferent resource units (RUs).

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating another example of various types ofdifferent RUs.

FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating another example of various types ofdifferent RUs.

FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating an example of various types ofcommunication protocol specified physical layer (PHY) fast Fouriertransform (FFT) sizes.

FIG. 6D is a diagram illustrating an example of different channelbandwidths and relationship there between.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an example of OFDMA/TDMA feedback.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an example of a simulation ofoperation.

FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDMA/TDMA feedback

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of OFDMA/spatial stream (SS)feedback.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of proposed feedbackschemes.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of tones (sub-carriers)user per wireless communication device (e.g., user, STA, etc.) in a 20MHz bandwidth.

FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method forexecution by at least one wireless communication device.

FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method forexecution by at least one wireless communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system 100. The wireless communication system 100 includesbase stations and/or access points 112-116, wireless communicationdevices 118-132 (e.g., wireless stations (STAs)), and a network hardwarecomponent 134. The wireless communication devices 118-132 may be laptopcomputers, or tablets, 118 and 126, personal digital assistants 120 and130, personal computers 124 and 132 and/or cellular telephones 122 and128. Other examples of such wireless communication devices 118-132 couldalso or alternatively include other types of devices that includewireless communication capability. The details of an embodiment of suchwireless communication devices are described in greater detail withreference to FIG. 2B among other diagrams.

Some examples of possible devices that may be implemented to operate inaccordance with any of the various examples, embodiments, options,and/or their equivalents, etc. described herein may include, but are notlimited by, appliances within homes, businesses, etc. such asrefrigerators, microwaves, heaters, heating systems, air conditioners,air conditioning systems, lighting control systems, and/or any othertypes of appliances, etc.; meters such as for natural gas service,electrical service, water service, Internet service, cable and/orsatellite television service, and/or any other types of meteringpurposes, etc.; devices wearable on a user or person including watches,monitors such as those that monitor activity level, bodily functionssuch as heartbeat, breathing, bodily activity, bodily motion or lackthereof, etc.; medical devices including intravenous (IV) medicinedelivery monitoring and/or controlling devices, blood monitoring devices(e.g., glucose monitoring devices) and/or any other types of medicaldevices, etc.; premises monitoring devices such as movementdetection/monitoring devices, door closed/ajar detection/monitoringdevices, security/alarm system monitoring devices, and/or any other typeof premises monitoring devices; multimedia devices includingtelevisions, computers, audio playback devices, video playback devices,and/or any other type of multimedia devices, etc.; and/or generally anyother type(s) of device(s) that include(s) wireless communicationcapability, functionality, circuitry, etc. In general, any device thatis implemented to support wireless communications may be implemented tooperate in accordance with any of the various examples, embodiments,options, and/or their equivalents, etc. described herein.

The base stations (BSs) or access points (APs) 112-116 are operablycoupled to the network hardware 134 via local area network connections136, 138, and 140. The network hardware 134, which may be a router,switch, bridge, modem, system controller, etc., provides a wide areanetwork connection 142 for the communication system 100. Each of thebase stations or access points 112-116 has an associated antenna orantenna array to communicate with the wireless communication devices inits area. Typically, the wireless communication devices register with aparticular base station or access point 112-116 to receive services fromthe communication system 100. For direct connections (i.e.,point-to-point communications), wireless communication devicescommunicate directly via an allocated channel.

Any of the various wireless communication devices (WDEVs) 118-132 andBSs or APs 112-116 may include processing circuitry and/or acommunication interface to support communications with any other of thewireless communication devices 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116. In anexample of operation, processing circuitry and/or a communicationinterface implemented within one of the devices (e.g., any one of theWDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116) is/are configured to process atleast one signal received from and/or to generate at least one signal tobe transmitted to another one of the devices (e.g., any other one of theWDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116).

Note that general reference to a communication device, such as awireless communication device (e.g., WDEVs) 118-132 and BSs or APs112-116 in FIG. 1, or any other communication devices and/or wirelesscommunication devices may alternatively be made generally herein usingthe term ‘device’ (e.g., with respect to FIG. 2A below, “device 210”when referring to “wireless communication device 210” or “WDEV 210,” or“devices 210-234” when referring to “wireless communication devices210-234”; or with respect to FIG. 2B below, use of “device 310” mayalternatively be used when referring to “wireless communication device310”, or “devices 390 and 391 (or 390-391)” when referring to wirelesscommunication devices 390 and 391 or WDEVs 390 and 391). Generally, suchgeneral references or designations of devices may be usedinterchangeably.

The processing circuitry and/or the communication interface of any oneof the various devices, WDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116, may beconfigured to support communications with any other of the variousdevices, WDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116. Such communications maybe uni-directional or bi-directional between devices. Also, suchcommunications may be uni-directional between devices at one time andbi-directional between those devices at another time.

In an example, a device (e.g., any one of the WDEVs 118-132 and BSs orAPs 112-116) includes a communication interface and/or processingcircuitry (and possibly other possible circuitries, components,elements, etc.) to support communications with other device(s) and togenerate and process signals for such communications. The communicationinterface and/or the processing circuitry operate to perform variousoperations and functions to effectuate such communications (e.g., thecommunication interface and the processing circuitry may be configuredto perform certain operation(s) in conjunction with one another,cooperatively, dependently with one another, etc. and other operation(s)separately, independently from one another, etc.). In some examples,such processing circuitry includes all capability, functionality, and/orcircuitry, etc. to perform such operations as described herein. In someother examples, such a communication interface includes all capability,functionality, and/or circuitry, etc. to perform such operations asdescribed herein. In even other examples, such processing circuitry anda communication interface include all capability, functionality, and/orcircuitry, etc. to perform such operations as described herein, at leastin part, cooperatively with one another.

In an example of implementation and operation, a wireless communicationdevice (e.g., any one of the WDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116)includes processing circuitry to support communications with one or moreof the other wireless communication devices (e.g., any other of theWDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116). For example, such processingcircuitry is configured to perform both processing operations as well ascommunication interface related functionality. Such processing circuitrymay be implemented as a single integrated circuit, a system on a chip,etc.

In another example of implementation and operation, a wirelesscommunication device (e.g., any one of the WDEVs 118-132 and BSs or APs112-116) includes processing circuitry and a communication interfaceconfigured to support communications with one or more of the otherwireless communication devices (e.g., any other of the WDEVs 118-132 andBSs or APs 112-116).

In an example of operation and implementation, BS/AP 116 supportscommunications with WDEV 130. For example, the BS/AP 116 is configuredto support first communications with WDEV 130 to determine anagreed-upon orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)resource unit (RU) of a plurality of OFDMA RUs and a plurality ofagreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to be used by theWDEV 130 to provide one or more predetermined responses to the BS/AP 116in accordance with second communications. The BASE STATION (BS)/AP 116is also configured to transmit a question to the in accordance with thesecond communications, and process the plurality of agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to determine whether energy thereinindicates a response of the one or more predetermined responses to thequestion being received from the in accordance with the secondcommunications in accordance with the second communications.

In another example, BS/AP 116 supports communications with WDEVs 130,132. The For example, the BS/AP 116 is configured to support thirdcommunications with WDEV 130 and WDEV 132 to determine anotheragreed-upon OFDMA RU of the plurality of OFDMA RUs and a first otherplurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the another OFDMA RUto be used by the WDEV 130 to provide the one or more predeterminedresponses to the wireless communication device in accordance with fourthcommunications and a second other plurality of agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers within the another OFDMA RU to be used by the WDEV 132 toprovide the one or more predetermined responses to the BS/AP 116 inaccordance with the fourth communications. Then, in accordance with thefourth communications, the BS/AP 116 is configured to transmit an OFDMAframe that includes a first other question to the WDEV 130 and a secondother question to the WDEV 132. The BS/AP 116 is also configured toprocess the first other plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carrierswithin the another OFDMA RU to determine whether energy thereinindicates a first other response of the one or more predeterminedresponses to the first other question from the WDEV 130 and to processthe second other plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within theanother OFDMA RU to determine whether energy therein indicates a secondother response of the one or more predetermined responses to the secondother question from the WDEV 132. In some examples, the first otherresponse of the one or more predetermined responses to the first otherquestion from the WDEV 130 and the second other response of the one ormore predetermined responses to the second other question from the WDEV132 are included in another OFDMA frame transmitted from the WDEVs 130,132 to the BS/AP 116 in response to the prior OFDMA frame that includesthe first other question to the WDEV 130 and the second other questionto the WDEV 132 that is transmitted from the BS/AP 116.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment 201 of dense deploymentof wireless communication devices (shown as WDEVs in the diagram). Anyof the various WDEVs 210-234 may be access points (APs) or wirelessstations (STAs). For example, WDEV 210 may be an AP or an AP-operativeSTA that communicates with WDEVs 212, 214, 216, and 218 that are STAs.WDEV 220 may be an AP or an AP-operative STA that communicates withWDEVs 222, 224, 226, and 228 that are STAs. In certain instances, atleast one additional AP or AP-operative STA may be deployed, such asWDEV 230 that communicates with WDEVs 232 and 234 that are STAs. TheSTAs may be any type of one or more wireless communication device typesincluding wireless communication devices 118-132, and the APs orAP-operative STAs may be any type of one or more wireless communicationdevices including as BSs or APs 112-116. Different groups of the WDEVs210-234 may be partitioned into different basic services sets (BSSs). Insome instances, at least one of the WDEVs 210-234 are included within atleast one overlapping basic services set (OBSS) that cover two or moreBSSs. As described above with the association of WDEVs in an AP-STArelationship, one of the WDEVs may be operative as an AP and certain ofthe WDEVs can be implemented within the same basic services set (BSS).

This disclosure presents novel architectures, methods, approaches, etc.that allow for improved spatial re-use for next generation WiFi orwireless local area network (WLAN) systems. Next generation WiFi systemsare expected to improve performance in dense deployments where manyclients and APs are packed in a given area (e.g., which may be an area[indoor and/or outdoor] with a high density of devices, such as a trainstation, airport, stadium, building, shopping mall, arenas, conventioncenters, colleges, downtown city centers, etc. to name just someexamples). Large numbers of devices operating within a given area can beproblematic if not impossible using prior technologies.

In an example of operation and implementation, WDEV 210 supportscommunications with WDEV 218. For example, the WDEV 210 is configured tosupport first communications with WDEV 218 to determine an agreed-uponorthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource unit (RU)of a plurality of OFDMA RUs and a plurality of agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to be used by the WDEV 218 to provideone or more predetermined responses to the WDEV 210 in accordance withsecond communications. The WDEV 210 is also configured to transmit aquestion to the in accordance with the second communications, andprocess the plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMARU to determine whether energy therein indicates a response of the oneor more predetermined responses to the question being received from thein accordance with the second communications in accordance with thesecond communications.

In another example, WDEV 210 supports communications with WDEVs 214,218. The For example, the WDEV 210 is configured to support thirdcommunications with WDEV 218 and WDEV 214 to determine anotheragreed-upon OFDMA RU of the plurality of OFDMA RUs and a first otherplurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the another OFDMA RUto be used by the WDEV 218 to provide the one or more predeterminedresponses to the wireless communication device in accordance with fourthcommunications and a second other plurality of agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers within the another OFDMA RU to be used by the WDEV 214 toprovide the one or more predetermined responses to the WDEV 210 inaccordance with the fourth communications. Then, in accordance with thefourth communications, the WDEV 210 is configured to transmit an OFDMAframe that includes a first other question to the WDEV 218 and a secondother question to the WDEV 214. The WDEV 210 is also configured toprocess the first other plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carrierswithin the another OFDMA RU to determine whether energy thereinindicates a first other response of the one or more predeterminedresponses to the first other question from the WDEV 218 and to processthe second other plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within theanother OFDMA RU to determine whether energy therein indicates a secondother response of the one or more predetermined responses to the secondother question from the WDEV 214. In some examples, the first otherresponse of the one or more predetermined responses to the first otherquestion from the WDEV 218 and the second other response of the one ormore predetermined responses to the second other question from the WDEV214 are included in another OFDMA frame transmitted from the WDEVs 214,218 to the WDEV 210 in response to the prior OFDMA frame that includesthe first other question to the WDEV 218 and the second other questionto the WDEV 214 that is transmitted from the WDEV 210.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example 202 of communicationbetween wireless communication devices. A wireless communication device310 (e.g., which may be any one of devices 118-132 as with reference toFIG. 1) is in communication with another wireless communication device390 (and/or any number of other wireless communication devices upthrough another wireless communication device 391) via a transmissionmedium. The wireless communication device 310 includes a communicationinterface 320 to perform transmitting and receiving of at least onesignal, symbol, packet, frame, etc. (e.g., using a transmitter 322 and areceiver 324) (note that general reference to packet or frame may beused interchangeably).

Generally speaking, the communication interface 320 is implemented toperform any such operations of an analog front end (AFE) and/or physicallayer (PHY) transmitter, receiver, and/or transceiver. Examples of suchoperations may include any one or more of various operations includingconversions between the frequency and analog or continuous time domains(e.g., such as the operations performed by a digital to analog converter(DAC) and/or an analog to digital converter (ADC)), gain adjustmentincluding scaling, filtering (e.g., in either the digital or analogdomains), frequency conversion (e.g., such as frequency upscaling and/orfrequency downscaling, such as to a baseband frequency at which one ormore of the components of the device 310 operates), equalization,pre-equalization, metric generation, symbol mapping and/or de-mapping,automatic gain control (AGC) operations, and/or any other operationsthat may be performed by an AFE and/or PHY component within a wirelesscommunication device.

In some implementations, the wireless communication device 310 alsoincludes processing circuitry 330, and an associated memory 340, toexecute various operations including interpreting at least one signal,symbol, packet, and/or frame transmitted to wireless communicationdevice 390 and/or received from the wireless communication device 390and/or wireless communication device 391. The wireless communicationdevices 310 and 390 (and/or 391) may be implemented using at least oneintegrated circuit in accordance with any desired configuration orcombination of components, modules, etc. within at least one integratedcircuit. Also, the wireless communication devices 310, 390, and/or 391may each include one or more antennas for transmitting and/or receivingof at least one packet or frame (e.g., WDEV 390 may include m antennas,and WDEV 391 may include n antennas).

Also, in some examples, note that one or more of the processingcircuitry 330, the communication interface 320 (including the TX 322and/or RX 324 thereof), and/or the memory 340 may be implemented in oneor more “processing modules,” “processing circuits,” “processors,”and/or “processing units” or their equivalents. Considering one example,a system-on-a-chip (SOC) 330 a may be implemented to include theprocessing circuitry 330, the communication interface 320 (including theTX 322 and/or RX 324 thereof), and the memory 340 (e.g., SOC 330 a beinga multi-functional, multi-module integrated circuit that includesmultiple components therein). Considering another example,processing-memory circuitry 330 b may be implemented to includefunctionality similar to both the processing circuitry 330 and thememory 340 yet the communication interface 320 is a separate circuitry(e.g., processing-memory circuitry 330 b is a single integrated circuitthat performs functionality of processing circuitry and a memory and iscoupled to and also interacts with the communication interface 320).

Considering even another example, two or more processing circuitries maybe implemented to include the processing circuitry 330, thecommunication interface 320 (including the TX 322 and/or RX 324thereof), and the memory 340. In such examples, such a “processingcircuitry” or “processing circuitries” (or “processor” or “processors”)is/are configured to perform various operations, functions,communications, etc. as described herein. In general, the variouselements, components, etc. shown within the device 310 may beimplemented in any number of “processing modules,” “processingcircuits,” “processors,” and/or “processing units” (e.g., 1, 2, . . . ,and generally using N such “processing modules,” “processing circuits,”“processors,” and/or “processing units”, where N is a positive integergreater than or equal to 1).

In some examples, the device 310 includes both processing circuitry 330and communication interface 320 configured to perform variousoperations. In other examples, the device 310 includes SOC 330 aconfigured to perform various operations. In even other examples, thedevice 310 includes processing-memory circuitry 330 b configured toperform various operations. Generally, such operations includegenerating, transmitting, etc. signals intended for one or more otherdevices (e.g., device 390 through 391) and receiving, processing, etc.other signals received for one or more other devices (e.g., device 390through 391).

In some examples, note that the communication interface 320, which iscoupled to the processing circuitry 330, that is configured to supportcommunications within a satellite communication system, a wirelesscommunication system, a wired communication system, a fiber-opticcommunication system, and/or a mobile communication system (and/or anyother type of communication system implemented using any type ofcommunication medium or media). Any of the signals generated andtransmitted and/or received and processed by the device 310 may becommunicated via any of these types of communication systems.

In an example of operation and implementation, WDEV 310 is configured tosupport first communications with a WDEV 390 and a WDEV 391 to determinean agreed-upon orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)resource unit (RU) of a plurality of OFDMA RUs and a first plurality ofagreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to be used by theWDEV 390 to provide one or more predetermined responses to the WDEV 310and a second plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within theOFDMA RU to be used by the WDEV 391 to provide the one or morepredetermined responses to the WDEV 310 in accordance with secondcommunications.

Then, in accordance with the second communications, the WDEV 310 isconfigured to transmit an OFDMA frame that includes a first question tothe WDEV 390 and a second question to the WDEV 391. The WDEV 310 is alsoconfigured to process the first plurality of agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to determine whether energy thereinindicates a first response of the one or more predetermined responses tothe first question from the WDEV 390. The WDEV 310 is also configured toprocess the second plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers withinthe OFDMA RU to determine whether energy therein indicates a secondresponse of the one or more predetermined responses to the secondquestion from the WDEV 391.

In some examples, the first other response of the one or morepredetermined responses to the first other question from the WDEV 390and the second other response of the one or more predetermined responsesto the second other question from the WDEV 391 are included in anotherOFDMA frame transmitted from the WDEVs 391, 390 to the WDEV 310 inresponse to the prior OFDMA frame that includes the first other questionto the WDEV 390 and the second other question to the WDEV 391 that istransmitted from the WDEV 310.

FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating another example 203 of communicationbetween wireless communication devices. In an example of operation andimplementation, at or during a first time (e.g., time 1 (ΔT1)), the WDEV310 transmits signal(s) to WDEV 390, and/or the WDEV 390 transmitsanother/other signal(s) to WDEV 310. At or during a second time (e.g.,time 2 (ΔT2)), the WDEV 310 processes signal(s) received from WDEV 390,and/or the WDEV 390 processes signal(s) received from WDEV 310.

In some examples, the signal(s) communicated between WDEV 310 and WDEV390 may include or be based on communications (e.g., frame exchanges) tocome to an agreement on agree-upon parameters (e.g., OFDMA RU(s), OFDMAsub-carriers, etc.) predetermined question(s), predetermined answer(s),and/or other information for use in supporting any desired type ofcommunications between WDEV 310 and WDEV 390.

In an example of operation and implementation, at or during a first time(e.g., time 1 (ΔT1)), the WDEV 310 is configured to support firstcommunications with WDEV 390 to determine an agreed-upon orthogonalfrequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource unit (RU) of aplurality of OFDMA RUs and a plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carrierswithin the OFDMA RU to be used by the WDEV 390 to provide one or morepredetermined responses to the WDEV 310 in accordance with secondcommunications.

Then, at or during a second time (e.g., time 2 (ΔT2)), in accordancewith the second communications, the WDEV 310 is configured to transmit aquestion to the WDEV 390 and to process the plurality of agreed-uponOFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to determine whether energytherein indicates a response of the one or more predetermined responsesto the question being received from the WDEV 390.

In some examples, the OFDMA RU of the plurality of OFDMA RUs includes 26OFDMA sub-carriers. More details are also provided below and withrespect to other diagrams regarding various embodiments, examples, etc.by which and into which a communication channel, OFDMA sub-carriers,etc. may be arranged and divided. Also, in certain specific examples,the plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU thatincludes 26 OFDMA sub-carriers includes a first set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers and a second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers. For example, theOFDMA RU that includes 26 OFDMA sub-carriers may include 4 respectivesets of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers each in one example.

In other specific examples, the plurality of agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers include respective sets of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers that areset across a 20 MHz communication channel. In an example, the OFDMA RUof the plurality of OFDMA RUs is based on a 20 MHz communicationchannel. For example, the 20 MHz communication channel may include 4respective sets of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers each in one example. Note thatthe respective sets of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers may be adjacent to oneanother or the respective OFDMA sub-carriers therein may be interspersedacross the 20 MHz communication channel. For example, the respectiveOFDMA sub-carrier sets may be adjacent in a similar manner as the setsof sub-carriers are assigned to different respective users/wirelesscommunication devices such as with respect to FIG. 3D. Alternatively,the respective sets of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers may be interspersed in asimilar manner as the sets of sub-carriers are assigned to differentrespective users/wireless communication devices such as with respect toFIG. 3C. In even other examples, a combination of adjacent andinterspersed sets of OFDMA sub-carriers may be used such that at leastone set of OFDMA sub-carriers includes adjacently located OFDMAsub-carriers and at least one set of OFDMA sub-carriers includesinterspersed-located OFDMA sub-carriers.

In general, any particular size of N OFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., N, whereN is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1) may be used for therespective sets of N OFDMA sub-carriers within any particular desiredsize RU (e.g., RU of size 26, 52, 106, 242, 484, 996, and/or other sizeRU), or alternatively, within any particular desired size ofcommunication channel (e.g., 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, etc.,and/or other size communication channel).

Note also that different respective sizes of A, B, C, etc. OFDMAsub-carriers (e.g., where each of A, B, C, etc. is a positive integergreater than or equal to 1) may be used for the respective sets of OFDMAsub-carriers within any particular desired size RU (e.g., RU of size 26,52, 106, 242, 484, 996, and/or other size RU), or alternatively, withinany particular desired size of communication channel (e.g., 20 MHz, 40MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, etc., and/or other size communication channel).For example, in some alternative examples, the number of OFDMAsub-carriers within each set need not be the same exact number.Considering an example, a first set includes A OFDMA sub-carriers and asecond set of B OFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., where each of A and B is adifferent respective positive integer greater than or equal to 1).

The one or more predetermined responses may include any of a variety oftypes of responses (e.g., yes or no such as in accordance with a 1-bitresponse, a set or not set response such as in accordance with a 1-bitresponse, etc., and/or different types of responses including those thatmay include multi-bit responses in some examples).

For example, in one particular example, first energy within the firstset of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers being greater than second energy within thesecond set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on a scaling factor correspondsto a first predetermined response (e.g., yes, set) of the one or morepredetermined responses to the question being received from the WDEV390, and the second energy within the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriersbeing greater than the first energy within the first set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers based on the scaling factor corresponds to a secondpredetermined response (e.g., no, not set) of the one or morepredetermined responses to the question being received from the WDEV390.

Also, in some examples, a situation in which no response has beenreceived by the WDEV 310 may be based on a determination that the firstenergy within the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers not being greaterthan the second energy within the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriersbased on the scaling factor and the second energy within the second setof 6 OFDMA sub-carriers not being greater than the first energy withinthe first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on the scaling factor. Thissituation may be used to determine that no response to the question isbeing received from the WDEV 390. Any of a variety of subsequentoperations may be performed based on a situation where no response tothe question has been received from the WDEV 390 including the WDEV 310re-transmitting the question to the WDEV 390 in a subsequent attempt toreceive a response there from.

In addition, in some examples, the OFDMA RU of the plurality of OFDMARUs includes 26 OFDMA sub-carriers, and the plurality of agreed-uponOFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU that includes 26 OFDMAsub-carriers includes a first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers and a secondset of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers. Again, alternatively, in other examples,the plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within a communicationchannel of a particular size (e.g., 20 MHz) includes a first set of 6OFDMA sub-carriers and a second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers such thatthe 6 OFDMA sub-carriers are spread across the communication channel ofthe particular size (e.g., 20 MHz).

Note that fewer than all of the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers inthe first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers and/or a second set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers may be used to make a determination of whether apredetermined response (e.g., yes, no, set, not set, or not received) ofthe one or more predetermined responses to the question being receivedfrom the WDEV 390.

For example, in one particular example, first energy within fewer thanall of the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., considering 5 orsome smaller number of OFDMA sub-carriers such as excluding the OFDMAsub-carrier having the highest energy among the first set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers) is greater than second energy within fewer than all of thesecond set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., considering 5 or some smallernumber of OFDMA sub-carriers such as excluding the OFDMA sub-carrierhaving the highest energy among the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers)based on a scaling factor and corresponds to a first predeterminedresponse of the one or more predetermined responses to the questionbeing received from the WDEV 390 (e.g., in accordance with comparing thesum of energy and/or power at complementary sets of sub-carriers/tones).Also, the second energy within the fewer than all of the second set of 6OFDMA sub-carriers being greater than the first energy within the fewerthan all of the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on the scalingfactor corresponds to a second predetermined response of the one or morepredetermined responses to the question being received from the WDEV 390(e.g., in accordance with comparing the sum of energy and/or power atcomplementary sets of sub-carriers/tones).

From certain perspectives, using fewer than all of the OFDMAsub-carriers within a particular set of OFDMA sub-carriers may beperformed for various reasons including to improve the robustness of areceiver wireless communication device to discrete spurioustones/sub-carriers interference. For example, these spurs can be in thecommunication channel and/or a wireless communication device (e.g., atransmitter such as with respect to a STA transmitter and/or an accesspoint (AP) receiver implementation). Note that these discrete spurs maybe common in certain examples and may prevent detection of the feedbackresponse at low level if not mitigated. Note that using fewer than allof the OFDMA sub-carriers within a set of OFDMA sub-carriers includes atechnique to remove the discrete spurs from the decision process andintroduce minimal degradation in presence of various deleteriouslyeffects (e.g., additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN)).

Also, in some specific examples, the first predetermined response of theone or more predetermined responses includes a first 1-bit predeterminedresponse, and the second predetermined response of the one or morepredetermined responses includes a second 1-bit predetermined response.

In other examples, more than 2 sets of OFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., 4 setsof OFDMA sub-carriers are employed to provide for the firstpredetermined response of the one or more predetermined responsesincluding a first 2-bit predetermined response, and the secondpredetermined response of the one or more predetermined responsesincluding a second 2-bit predetermined response.

In another example of implementation and operation, the WDEV 310includes both processing circuitry to perform many of the operationsdescribed above and also includes a communication interface, coupled tothe processing circuitry, that are configured in combination to supportcommunications within a satellite communication system, a wirelesscommunication system, a wired communication system, a fiber-opticcommunication system, and/or a mobile communication system. For example,certain operations may be performed by only the processing circuitry,other certain operations may be performed by only the communicationinterface, and even some other certain operations may be performed byboth the processing circuitry and the communication interface.

In addition, in some examples, the first communications between a WDEV310 and one or more other WDEVs 390, 391 to agree upon one or moreparameters by which subsequent communications are to be made alsoinvolves selecting one or more P-matrices by which communications fromthe one or more other WDEVs 390, 391 are to be based. For example, whentransmitting response(s) to the WDEV 310, the one or more other WDEVs390, 391 may be configured to use at least one P-matrix.

In an example of operation and implementation, at least one P-matrix tobe used by at least one of the WDEVs 390, 391 when transmitting at leastone of the feedback responses to the WDEV 310, at least one number ofOFDMA symbols to be used by the at least one of the WDEVs 390, 391 whentransmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the WDEV 310,and/or at least one of a number of bits to be included by the at leastone of the WDEVs 390, 391 when transmitting the at least one of thefeedback responses to the WDEV 310.

With respect to an example that allows WDEV 310 to decide the number ofbits per response, the robustness (Nx) and the spreading number ofspatial streams, Nss (e.g., as may be achieved using an appropriatelyselected P-matrix). For example, of WDEV 310 sends to WDEVs 390, 391 thefollowing three parameters (e.g., for agreed-upon parameters) for thenull data packet (NDP) short feedback response:

1. Nb=1, 2, 3 or 4 (number of bits in response)

2. Nx=1, 2, or 4 (number of symbols per 1 bit (alt. 1b) to transmit,control the robustness)

3. Nss=1, 2, or 4 (P-matrix size and number of OFDMA symbols); where

Nb×Nx<=Nss

Examples in 20 MHz may be as follows:

A. 9 STAs with 1b response, maximum efficiency (less robustness): Nb=1,Nx=1, Nss=1 (one OFDMA symbol)

B. 9 STAs with 1b response, minimum efficiency (more robustness): Nb=1,Nx=4, Nss=1 (four OFDMA symbols)

C. 9 STAs with 2 bit (alt. 2b) response, medium efficiency (moderaterobustness): Nb=2, Nx=2, Nss=4 (four OFDMA symbols)

D. 18 STAs with 1b response, maximum efficiency (less robustness): Nb=1,Nx=1, Nss=2 (two OFDMA symbols)

E. 36 STAs with 1b response, maximum efficiency (less robustness): Nb=1,Nx=1, Nss=4 (four OFDMA symbols)

In the examples above, {D, E} are like a first Option #1 that uses aP-matrix for spreading (e.g., to add more users while keeping a samenumber of bits) and {C} is like an Option #2 (where a user is assigned agiven set of sub-carriers, and a P-matrix is used to get more possiblestates, such as 1×1 P-matrix for 1 bit), 2×2 P-matrix for 2 bits, and4×4 P-matrix for 3 or 4 bits, such as to add more bits per user).

With this novel scheme, NDP feedback response from a WDEV (WDEV 390 orWDEV 391) could be set to be always on a common set of 6 tones and to bewithin a single 26 tones RU, or, alternatively, within a communicationchannel of a particular size (e.g., 20 MHz). Response could range from 1to 4 bits. In this novel scheme, the WDEV 310 decides the maximum Nsssupported. For a given Nss, implementation is the same at AP whateverthe multiples states are originating one or multiple STAs. The WDEV 310can balance between robustness and maximum number of users.

An example of a P-matrix is an orthogonal matrix (e.g., P_(2×2)=[top row[1 1], bottom row [1 −1]]). Different respective P-matrices of differentsizes (e.g., 4×4, 6×6, 8×8, etc.) can be formed. For example, a 4×4P-matrix can be formed such as by a combination of a 2×2 P-matrix andusing conjugation methods. In some particular examples, a P-matrix maygenerally be viewed as being a complex square matrix with everyprincipal minor greater than zero (0) (e.g., with a specific exampleincluding the P_(2×2) described above). In wireless communications, theuse of a P-matrix can provide for spreading of respective sub-carriersto allow for more states across a given set of sub-carriers. Forexample, the use of a P-matrix can be used to perform spreading ofsignal to provide for allow for more bits in signaling that may be usedfor more users and/or more bits per user. As some examples, a 1×1P-matrix would not provide for additional bits (e.g., result in just 1bit), but a 2×2 P-matrix would provide for additional bits (e.g., resultin 2 bits), and a 4×4 P-matrix would also provide for additional bits(e.g., result in 3 or 4 bits, as may be desired in different examples).

This disclosure presents, among other things, a novel signalingmechanism, scheme, protocol, approach, recommended practice, etc. forthe multiple users (MUs) (e.g., multiusers) feedback such a triggerframe (e.g., such as a AP trigger frame from an AP, an AP-operative STA,such as the WDEV 310).

In one examples, feedback responses from the WDEVs 390-391 can include:Positive (YES), Negative (NO) or No response.

This disclosure shows various novel examples of short uplink (UL)feedback that may be used to improve efficiency and reduce latency.

In an example of implementation and operation including query andfeedback, WDEV 310 generates and transmits an AP query downlink (DL) toWDEV 390 to determine if WDEV 390 has any information, data, etc. to betransmitted uplink (UL) to the WDEV 310 (e.g., WDEV 310 asks WDEV 390,the question: “Do you have something to send?”). The WDEV 390 respondswith “YES” or “NO” by appropriate signaling based on the agree-uponparameters. In some instances, while the WDEV 390 transmits a responseto WDEV 310, such a response may not be successfully received by theWDEV 310.

Various examples operate herein using novel signaling for the multiusersfeedback (e.g., from WDEVs 390-391 to WDEV 310) from a trigger frame(e.g., feedback from WDEVs 390-391 to WDEV 310 such as in response to anAP trigger frame from WDEV 310). Examples of feedback responses:Positive (YES), Negative (NO).

Feedback Signaling:

In an example of implementation and operation, a response for one STAoccupies one 26 tone RU [RU26], or, alternatively, within acommunication channel of a particular size (e.g., 20 MHz) (e.g., seeFIG. 5A-6D for examples of various sized resource units (RUs), channelbandwidths, etc.).

Such feedback signals can be implemented using 3 levels (e.g., −1, +1,and 0).

Considering an example where peak to average power ratio (PAPR) is 2.84dB, 13 tones are BPSK modulated with a Barker sequence at +3 dB, suchthat 13 tones are nulls. Compensation of +3 dB may be used for 13 nullstones per RU26. Note that this is not a power boosting. Generallyspeaking, this presents an alternative example of sets of OFDMAsub-carriers of a different size (e.g., including 13 OFDMA sub-carriers)in comparison to other examples herein that include sets of OFDMAsub-carriers of another different size (e.g., including 6 OFDMAsub-carriers). Generally speaking, this is another example of theimplementation of using two sets of N OFDMA sub-carriers, where N is apositive integer greater than or equal to 1. Some examples include setsof 13 OFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., two 13 OFDMA sub-carrier sets that areadjacent within one RU26, and/or a communication channel ofapproximately 2 MHz), other examples include sets of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers, and other examples include sets of N OFDMA sub-carriers(e.g., where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1).

In some examples, the respective sets of OFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., 6OFDMA sub-carriers) are spread apparat for various reasons that mayinclude one or more of adding frequency diversity, providing for morerobustness to narrowband interference, preventing false radar detectionin dynamic frequency selection (DFS) band, and/or allowing higher power(some countries have specific power spectral density limitations inaddition to total transmit power).

Non-nulls and nulls tones are interleaved in frequency to minimizeimpairments from channel.

Examples of 3 possible responses on a 26 tones RU may be as follows:

Yes=[+1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, −1, 0, −1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, −1,0, +1, 0, −1, 0, +1, 0]*sqrt(2);

No=[0, +1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, −1, 0, −1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0,−1, 0, +1, 0, −1, 0, +1]*sqrt(2);

No response=[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0];

Note that channel estimation need not be required at a receiver (e.g.,RX, STA).

The receiver (RX) processing can be of very low complexity such thatthere is no threshold adjustment and robust to interference. In someexamples, if circular rotations of the Barker sequence and correlatorsare used at a receiver (RX), then up to 12 additional response types canbe added. Note that the 12 additional responses can be added by using acyclic shift in sequence in some examples. In some examples, a receiverwireless communication device is configured to implement a correlator inorder to detect these additional responses.

Note that various types of RU sizes may be allocated to WDEVs for use tomake their feedback responses, various pattern(s) of sub-carriers ofrespective set(s) of sub-carriers within those RU(s), and differentparameters may be used for the respective agreed-upon parameters thatgovern the communications between the wireless communication devicesincluding the feedback response(s) used therein.

In other examples, two different options for sequence in the feedbackresponse may be used: (1) Barker 13 sequence and/or (2) HE-LTF 2Xsequence.

Also, two options for multiplexing the MU responses may be used: (1)orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)/time divisionmultiple access (TDMA) and/or (2) OFDMA/Spatial Stream (encoded usingthe P-Matrix).

A WDEV (e.g., WDEV 390, STA) that participates in a HE (High Efficiency)Trigger based PLCP Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) transmission may beimplemented to have certain characteristics. Such operation may be basedon section 22.3.12.4.6. Examples of such characteristics may include anyone or more of: Timing accuracy of ±400 ns (800 ns p-to-p), carrierfrequency offset (CFO) error with respect to the corresponding Triggerframe shall not exceed 350 Hz measured as the 10% point of complementarycumulative distribution function (CCDF) of CFO errors at a RX (receive)power of −60 dBm in a primary 20 MHz, absolute transmit (TX) powerrequirements and the received signal strength indicator (RSSI)measurement accuracy requirements for the two device classes (e.g.,Class A: TX power accuracy: +/−3 dB, RSSI measurement accuracy: +/−3 dB,and a dynamic range of 6 dB; and Class B: TX power accuracy: +/−9 dBRSSI accuracy: +/−5 dB, and a dynamic range of 14 dB).

Certain examples of device feedback response from a receiver device(e.g., from a STA, a WDEV, etc.) are described below. A STA feedbackresponse occupies one RU26 in frequency (e.g., where RU26 indicates aresource unit (RU) with 26 total sub-carriers such as with respect toFIG. 7B). Alternatively, a STA feedback response is implemented usingsets of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers that are spread across a communicationchannel of a particular size (e.g., 20 MHz). Symbol time (excludingCyclic prefix (CP)) is 12.8 micro-seconds (μs). Sequence is 13 tones perRU26 interleaved with 13 nulls tones (e.g., this can minimize theimpairments from channel response). Sequence power is set to +3 dB tocompensate for the 13 nulls tones (e.g., consider the total power for 26tones RU remain the same). A transmitting device (e.g., AP, AP-operativeSTA, etc.) can operate to signal to the receiver devices (e.g., fromSTAs, WDEVs, etc.) the target RSSI level.

Examples of feedback response may be as follows:

1. “YES”: a STA send a 13 tones sequence on RU26 at even tone indices(see Table 1) (e.g., note an exception is center RU26 where even on pos.and odd on neg. tone indices).

2. “NO”: STA send a 13 tones sequence on RU26 at odd tone indices (seetable 1) (e.g., note an exception is center RU26 where odd at pos. andeven on neg. tone indices).

Note that the exception described above is because the center RU26 has14 even and 12 odd tones. For better or best performance, an equalnumber of non-nulls to nulls tones is used.

TABLE 1 Sequence Tones Indices in 20 MHz YES NO RU26 #1 −120:2:−96−121:2:−95 RU26 #2 −94:2:−70 −95:2:−71 RU26 #3 −68:2:−44 −67:2:−43 RU26#4 −42:2:−18 −43:2:−17 RU26 #5 −15:2:−5, 4:2:16 −16:2:−4, 5:2:15 RU26 #618:2:42 17:2:41 RU26 #7 44:2:68 43:2:67 RU26 #8 70:2:94 71:2:95 RU26 #996:2:120 97:2:121

Note: Tone indices for 80 MHz follows the 20 MHz rule with an exceptionfor center RU26. Tone indices for 40 MHz follows the 20 MHz rule withoutthe center RU26.

Signal Properties

Various signal properties are described below with respect to theoperations described herein. Channel estimation is not required at thereceiver (e.g., RX, where RX refers to receiver, STA, WDEV, etc.). RXprocess is trivial, so no threshold adjustment (e.g., compare the sum ofpower at EVEN with ODD tone locations, compare the sum of energy and/orpower at complementary sets of sub-carriers/tones).

Signal is robust to interference and channel response. Detection isunaffected by timing offset. Note that outdoor environment couldintroduce large timing offset. The timing error delta (Δ) for multipleSTAs (e.g., 800 nano-seconds (ns)) with 120 m outdoor, results in 1.6 μsof timing offset. Note that this includes a 360° phase rotation across 8adjacent sub-carriers based on a flat channel (e.g., flat frequencyresponse).

A response includes an affirmative “YES” or “NO”. Note that a “NOresponse” is not an implied “NO”. Note that a “No response” from a STAcould mean STA did not received the query, is out of range, or the APdid not decode properly the feedback response.

There may be interference prone environments where queries from AP orresponses from STAs are missed. An AP can identify the STAs with “Noresponse” and treat them accordingly. Note also that strong interferencedoes not generate a large number of false “YES” or “NO” feedbackresponses.

In another example of implementation and operation, the WDEV 310includes both a processing circuitry to perform many of the operationsdescribed above and also includes a communication interface, coupled tothe processing circuitry, that is configured to support communicationswithin a satellite communication system, a wireless communicationsystem, a wired communication system, a fiber-optic communicationsystem, and/or a mobile communication system. The processing circuitryis configured to transmit the first OFDMA packet and/or the second OFDMApacket to WDEV 390 and/or WDEV 391 via the communication interface.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example 301 of orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing (OFDM) and/or orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA). OFDM's modulation may be viewed as dividing upan available spectrum into a plurality of narrowband sub-carriers (e.g.,relatively lower data rate carriers). The sub-carriers are includedwithin an available frequency spectrum portion or band. This availablefrequency spectrum is divided into the sub-carriers or tones used forthe OFDM or OFDMA symbols and packets/frames. Note that sub-carrier ortone may be used interchangeably. Typically, the frequency responses ofthese sub-carriers are non-overlapping and orthogonal. Each sub-carriermay be modulated using any of a variety of modulation coding techniques(e.g., as shown by the vertical axis of modulated data).

A communication device may be configured to perform encoding of one ormore bits to generate one or more coded bits used to generate themodulation data (or generally, data). For example, processing circuitryand the communication interface of a communication device may beconfigured to perform forward error correction (FEC) and/or errorchecking and correction (ECC) code of one or more bits to generate oneor more coded bits. Examples of FEC and/or ECC may include turbo code,convolutional code, turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM), low densityparity check (LDPC) code, Reed-Solomon (RS) code, BCH (Bose andRay-Chaudhuri, and Hocquenghem) code, binary convolutional code (BCC),Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), and/or any other type of ECC and/or FECcode and/or combination thereof, etc. Note that more than one type ofECC and/or FEC code may be used in any of various implementationsincluding concatenation (e.g., first ECC and/or FEC code followed bysecond ECC and/or FEC code, etc. such as based on an inner code/outercode architecture, etc.), parallel architecture (e.g., such that firstECC and/or FEC code operates on first bits while second ECC and/or FECcode operates on second bits, etc.), and/or any combination thereof. Theone or more coded bits may then undergo modulation or symbol mapping togenerate modulation symbols. The modulation symbols may include dataintended for one or more recipient devices. Note that such modulationsymbols may be generated using any of various types of modulation codingtechniques. Examples of such modulation coding techniques may includebinary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK),8-phase shift keying (PSK), 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), 32amplitude and phase shift keying (APSK), etc., uncoded modulation,and/or any other desired types of modulation including higher orderedmodulations that may include even greater number of constellation points(e.g., 1024 QAM, etc.).

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating another example 302 of OFDM and/orOFDMA. A transmitting device transmits modulation symbols via thesub-carriers. Note that such modulation symbols may include datamodulation symbols, pilot modulation symbols (e.g., for use in channelestimation, characterization, etc.) and/or other types of modulationsymbols (e.g., with other types of information included therein). OFDMand/or OFDMA modulation may operate by performing simultaneoustransmission of a large number of narrowband carriers (or multi-tones).In some applications, a guard interval (GI) or guard space is sometimesemployed between the various OFDM symbols to try to minimize the effectsof ISI (Inter-Symbol Interference) that may be caused by the effects ofmulti-path within the communication system, which can be particularly ofconcern in wireless communication systems.

In addition, as shown in right hand side of FIG. 3A, a cyclic prefix(CP) and/or cyclic suffix (CS) (e.g., shown in right hand side of FIG.3A, which may be a copy of the CP) may also be employed within the guardinterval to allow switching time (e.g., such as when jumping to a newcommunication channel or sub-channel) and to help maintain orthogonalityof the OFDM and/or OFDMA symbols. In some examples, a certain amount ofinformation (e.g., data bits) at the end portion of the data portionis/are copied and placed at the beginning of the data to form theframe/symbol(s). In a specific example, consider that the data includesdata bits x₀,x₁, . . . x_(N−Ncp), . . . , x_(N−1), where the x_(N−Ncp)bit is the first bit of the end portion of the data portion that is tobe copied, then the bits x_(N−Ncp), . . . , x_(N−1), are copied andplaced at the beginning of the frame/symbol(s). Note that such endportion of the data portion is/are copied and placed at the beginning ofthe data to form the frame/symbol(s) may also be shifted, cyclicallyshifted, and/or copied more than once, etc. if desired in certainembodiments. Generally speaking, an OFDM and/or OFDMA system design isbased on the expected delay spread within the communication system(e.g., the expected delay spread of the communication channel).

In a single-user system in which one or more OFDM symbols or OFDMpackets/frames are transmitted between a transmitter device and areceiver device, all of the sub-carriers or tones are dedicated for usein transmitting modulated data between the transmitter and receiverdevices. In a multiple user system in which one or more OFDM symbols orOFDM packets/frames are transmitted between a transmitter device andmultiple recipient or receiver devices, the various sub-carriers ortones may be mapped to different respective receiver devices asdescribed below with respect to FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating another example 303 of OFDM and/orOFDMA. Comparing OFDMA to OFDM, OFDMA is a multi-user version of thepopular orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) digitalmodulation scheme. Multiple access is achieved in OFDMA by assigningsubsets of sub-carriers to individual recipient devices or users. Forexample, first sub-carrier(s)/tone(s) may be assigned to a user 1,second sub-carrier(s)/tone(s) may be assigned to a user 2, and so on upto any desired number of users. In addition, such sub-carrier/toneassignment may be dynamic among different respective transmissions(e.g., a first assignment for a first packet/frame, a second assignmentfor second packet/frame, etc.). An OFDM packet/frame may include morethan one OFDM symbol. Similarly, an OFDMA packet/frame may include morethan one OFDMA symbol. In addition, such sub-carrier/tone assignment maybe dynamic among different respective symbols within a givenpacket/frame or superframe (e.g., a first assignment for a first OFDMAsymbol within a packet/frame, a second assignment for a second OFDMAsymbol within the packet/frame, etc.). Generally speaking, an OFDMAsymbol is a particular type of OFDM symbol, and general reference toOFDM symbol herein includes both OFDM and OFDMA symbols (and generalreference to OFDM packet/frame herein includes both OFDM and OFDMApackets/frames, and vice versa). FIG. 3C shows example 303 where theassignments of sub-carriers to different users are intermingled amongone another (e.g., sub-carriers assigned to a first user includesnon-adjacent sub-carriers and at least one sub-carrier assigned to asecond user is located in between two sub-carriers assigned to the firstuser). The different groups of sub-carriers associated with each usermay be viewed as being respective channels of a plurality of channelsthat compose all of the available sub-carriers for OFDM signaling.

FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating another example 304 of OFDM and/orOFDMA. In this example 304, the assignments of sub-carriers to differentusers are located in different groups of adjacent sub-carriers (e.g.,first sub-carriers assigned to a first user include first adjacentlylocated sub-carrier group, second sub-carriers assigned to a second userinclude second adjacently located sub-carrier group, etc.). Thedifferent groups of adjacently located sub-carriers associated with eachuser may be viewed as being respective channels of a plurality ofchannels that compose all of the available sub-carriers for OFDMsignaling.

FIG. 3E is a diagram illustrating an example 305 of single-carrier (SC)signaling. SC signaling, when compared to OFDM signaling, includes asingular relatively wide channel across which signals are transmitted.In contrast, in OFDM, multiple narrowband sub-carriers or narrowbandsub-channels span the available frequency range, bandwidth, or spectrumacross which signals are transmitted within the narrowband sub-carriersor narrowband sub-channels.

Generally, a communication device may be configured to includeprocessing circuitry and the communication interface (or alternativelydifferent respective configuration of circuitries, such as SOC 330 aand/or processing-memory circuitry 330 b shown in FIG. 2B) configured toprocess received OFDM and/or OFDMA symbols and/or frames (and/or SCsymbols and/or frames) and to generate such OFDM and/or OFDMA symbolsand/or frames (and/or SC symbols and/or frames).

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example 401 of at least one portionof an OFDM/A packet. This packet includes at least one preamble symbolfollowed by at least one data symbol. The at least one preamble symbolincludes information for use in identifying, classifying, and/orcategorizing the packet for appropriate processing.

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating another example 402 of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet of a second type. This packet also includesa preamble and data. The preamble is composed of at least one shorttraining field (STF), at least one long training field (LTF), and atleast one signal field (SIG). The data is composed of at least one datafield. In both this example 402 and the prior example 401, the at leastone data symbol and/or the at least one data field may generally bereferred to as the payload of the packet. Among other purposes, STFsand/or LTFs can be used to assist a device to identify that a frame isabout to start, to synchronize timers, to select an antennaconfiguration, to set receiver gain, to set up certain of the modulationparameters for the remainder of the packet, to perform channelestimation for uses such as beamforming, etc. In some examples, one ormore STFs are used for gain adjustment (e.g., such as automatic gaincontrol (AGC) adjustment), and a given STF may be repeated one or moretimes (e.g., repeated 1 time in one example). In some examples, one ormore LTFs are used for channel estimation, channel characterization,etc. (e.g., such as for determining a channel response, a channeltransfer function, etc.), and a given LTF may be repeated one or moretimes (e.g., repeated up to 8 times in one example).

Among other purposes, the SIGs can include various information todescribe the OFDM packet including certain attributes as data rate,packet length, number of symbols within the packet, channel width,modulation encoding, modulation coding set (MCS), modulation type,whether the packet as a single or multiuser frame, frame length, etc.among other possible information. This disclosure presents, among otherthings, a means by which a variable length second at least one SIG canbe used to include any desired amount of information. By using at leastone SIG that is a variable length, different amounts of information maybe specified therein to adapt for any situation.

Various examples are described below for possible designs of a preamblefor use in wireless communications as described herein.

FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating another example 403 of at least oneportion of at least one portion of an OFDM/A packet of another type. Afield within the packet may be copied one or more times therein (e.g.,where N is the number of times that the field is copied, and N is anypositive integer greater than or equal to one). This copy may be acyclically shifted copy. The copy may be modified in other ways from theoriginal from which the copy is made.

FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating another example 404 of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet of a third type. In this example 404, theOFDM/A packet includes one or more fields followed by one or more firstsignal fields (SIG(s) 1) followed by one or more second signal fields(SIG(s) 2) followed by and one or more data field.

FIG. 4E is a diagram illustrating another example 405 of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet of a fourth type. In this example 405, theOFDM/A packet includes one or more first fields followed by one or morefirst signal fields (SIG(s) 1) followed by one or more second fieldsfollowed by one or more second signal fields (SIG(s) 2) followed by andone or more data field.

FIG. 4F is a diagram illustrating another example 406 of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet. Such a general preamble format may bebackward compatible with prior IEEE 802.11 prior standards, protocols,and/or recommended practices.

In this example 406, the OFDM/A packet includes a legacy portion (e.g.,at least one legacy short training field (STF) shown as L-STF, legacysignal field (SIG) shown as L-SIG) and a first signal field (SIG) (e.g.,VHT [Very High Throughput] SIG (shown as SIG-A)). Then, the OFDM/Apacket includes one or more other VHT portions (e.g., VHT short trainingfield (STF) shown as VHT-STF, one or more VHT long training fields(LTFs) shown as VHT-LTF, a second SIG (e.g., VHT SIG (shown as SIG-B)),and one or more data symbols.

Various diagrams below are shown that depict at least a portion (e.g.,preamble) of various OFDM/A packet designs.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating another example 501 of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet. In this example 501, the OFDM/A packetincludes a signal field (SIG) and/or a repeat of that SIG thatcorresponds to a prior or legacy communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice relative to a newer, developing, etc.communication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown asL-SIG/R-L-SIG) followed by a first at least one SIG based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-SIG-AL e.g., where HE corresponds to highefficiency) followed by a second at least one SIG based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-SIG-A2, e.g., where HE again corresponds to highefficiency) followed by a short training field (STF) based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-STF, e.g., where HE again corresponds to highefficiency) followed by one or more fields.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating another example 502 of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet. In this example 502, the OFDM/A packetincludes a signal field (SIG) and/or a repeat of that SIG thatcorresponds to a prior or legacy communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice relative to a newer, developing, etc.communication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown asL-SIG/R-L-SIG) followed by a first at least one SIG based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-SIG-A1, e.g., where HE corresponds to highefficiency) followed by a second at least one SIG based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-SIG-A2, e.g., where HE again corresponds to highefficiency) followed by a third at least one SIG based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-SIG-A3, e.g., where HE again corresponds to highefficiency) followed by a fourth at least one SIG based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-SIG-A4, e.g., where HE again corresponds to highefficiency) followed by a STF based on a newer, developing, etc.communication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown asHE-STF, e.g., where HE again corresponds to high efficiency) followed byone or more fields.

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating another example 502 of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet. In this example 503, the OFDM/A packetincludes a signal field (SIG) and/or a repeat of that SIG thatcorresponds to a prior or legacy communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice relative to a newer, developing, etc.communication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown asL-SIG/R-L-SIG) followed by a first at least one SIG based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-SIG-A1, e.g., where HE corresponds to highefficiency) followed by a second at least one SIG based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-SIG-A2, e.g., where HE again corresponds to highefficiency) followed by a third at least one SIG based on a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as HE-SIG-B, e.g., where HE again corresponds to highefficiency) followed by a STF based on a newer, developing, etc.communication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown asHE-STF, e.g., where HE again corresponds to high efficiency) followed byone or more fields. This example 503 shows a distributed SIG design thatincludes a first at least one SIG-A (e.g., HE-SIG-A1 and HE-SIG-A2) anda second at least one SIG-B (e.g., HE-SIG-B).

FIG. 5D is a diagram illustrating another example 504 of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet. This example 504 depicts a type of OFDM/Apacket that includes a preamble and data. The preamble is composed of atleast one short training field (STF), at least one long training field(LTF), and at least one signal field (SIG).

In this example 504, the preamble is composed of at least one shorttraining field (STF) that corresponds to a prior or legacy communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice relative to a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as L-STF(s)) followed by at least one long trainingfield (LTF) that corresponds to a prior or legacy communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice relative to a newer,developing, etc. communication standard, protocol, and/or recommendedpractice (shown as L-LTF(s)) followed by at least one SIG thatcorresponds to a prior or legacy communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice relative to a newer, developing, etc.communication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown asL-SIG(s)) and optionally followed by a repeat (e.g., or cyclicallyshifted repeat) of the L-SIG(s) (shown as RL-SIG(s)) followed by anotherat least one SIG based on a newer, developing, etc. communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A,e.g., where HE again corresponds to high efficiency) followed by anotherat least one STF based on a newer, developing, etc. communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-STF(s),e.g., where HE again corresponds to high efficiency) followed by anotherat least one LTF based on a newer, developing, etc. communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-LTF(s),e.g., where HE again corresponds to high efficiency) followed by atleast one packet extension followed by one or more fields.

FIG. 5E is a diagram illustrating another example 505 of at least oneportion of an OFDM/A packet. In this example 505, the preamble iscomposed of at least one field followed by at least one SIG thatcorresponds to a prior or legacy communication standard, protocol,and/or recommended practice relative to a newer, developing, etc.communication standard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown asL-SIG(s)) and optionally followed by a repeat (e.g., or cyclicallyshifted repeat) of the L-SIG(s) (shown as RL-SIG(s)) followed by anotherat least one SIG based on a newer, developing, etc. communicationstandard, protocol, and/or recommended practice (shown as HE-SIG-A,e.g., where HE again corresponds to high efficiency) followed by one ormore fields.

Note that information included in the various fields in the variousexamples provided herein may be encoded using various encoders. In someexamples, two independent binary convolutional code (BCC) encoders areimplemented to encode information corresponding to different respectivemodulation coding sets (MCSs) that are can be selected and/or optimizedwith respect to, among other things, the respective payload on therespective channel. Various communication channel examples are describedwith respect to FIG. 6D below.

Also, in some examples, a wireless communication device generatescontent that is included in the various SIGs (e.g., SIGA and/or SIGB) tosignal MCS(s) to one or more other wireless communication devices toinstruct which MCS(s) for those one or more other wireless communicationdevices to use with respect to one or more communications. In addition,in some examples, content included in a first at least one SIG (e.g.,SIGA) include information to specify at least one operational parameterfor use in processing a second at least one SIG (e.g., SIGB) within thesame OFDM/A packet.

Various OFDM/A frame structures are presented herein for use incommunications between wireless communication devices and specificallyshowing OFDM/A frame structures corresponding to one or more resourceunits (RUs). Such OFDM/A frame structures may include one or more RUs.Note that these various examples may include different total numbers ofsub-carriers, different numbers of data sub-carriers, different numbersof pilot sub-carriers, etc. Different RUs may also have different othercharacteristics (e.g., different spacing between the sub-carriers,different sub-carrier densities, implemented within different frequencybands, etc.).

FIG. 5F is a diagram illustrating an example 506 of selection amongdifferent OFDM/A frame structures for use in communications betweenwireless communication devices and specifically showing OFDM/A framestructures 350 corresponding to one or more resource units (RUs). Thisdiagram may be viewed as having some similarities to allocation ofsub-carriers to different users as shown in FIG. 4D and also shows howeach OFDM/A frame structure is associated with one or more RUs. Notethat these various examples may include different total numbers ofsub-carriers, different numbers of data sub-carriers, different numbersof pilot sub-carriers, etc. Different RUs may also have different othercharacteristics (e.g., different spacing between the sub-carriers,different sub-carrier densities, implemented within different frequencybands, etc.).

In one example, OFDM/A frame structure 1 351 is composed of at least oneRU 1 551. In another example, OFDM/A frame structure 1 351 is composedof at least one RU 1 551 and at least one RU 2 552. In another example,OFDM/A frame structure 1 351 is composed of at least one RU 1 551, atleast one RU 2 552, and at least one RU m 553. Similarly, the OFDM/Aframe structure 2 352 up through OFDM/A frame structure n 353 may becomposed of any combinations of the various RUs (e.g., including any oneor more RU selected from the RU 1 551 through RU m 553).

FIG. 5G is a diagram illustrating an example 507 of various types ofdifferent resource units (RUs). In this example 502, RU 1 551 includesA1 total sub-carrier(s), A2 data (D) sub-carrier(s), A3 pilot (P)sub-carrier(s), and A4 unused sub-carrier(s). RU 2 552 includes B1 totalsub-carrier(s), B2 D sub-carrier(s), B3 P sub-carrier(s), and B4 unusedsub-carrier(s). RU N 553 includes C1 total sub-carrier(s), C2 Dsub-carrier(s), C3 P sub-carrier(s), and C4 unused sub-carrier(s).

Considering the various RUs (e.g., across RU 1 551 to RU N 553), thetotal number of sub-carriers across the RUs increases from RU 1 551 toRU N 553 (e.g., A1<B1<C1). Also, considering the various RUs (e.g.,across RU 1 551 to RU N 553), the ratio of pilot sub-carriers to datasub-carriers across the RUs decreases from RU 1 551 to RU N 553 (e.g.,A3/A2>B3/B2>C3/C2).

In some examples, note that different RUs can include a different numberof total sub-carriers and a different number of data sub-carriers yetinclude a same number of pilot sub-carriers.

As can be seen, this disclosure presents various options for mapping ofdata and pilot sub-carriers (and sometimes unused sub-carriers thatinclude no modulation data or are devoid of modulation data) into OFDMAframes or packets (note that frame and packet may be usedinterchangeably herein) in various communications between communicationdevices including both the uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) such as withrespect to an access point (AP). Note that a user may generally beunderstood to be a wireless communication device implemented in awireless communication system (e.g., a wireless station (STA) or anaccess point (AP) within a wireless local area network (WLAN/WiFi)). Forexample, a user may be viewed as a given wireless communication device(e.g., a wireless station (STA) or an access point (AP), or anAP-operative STA within a wireless communication system). Thisdisclosure discussed localized mapping and distributed mapping of suchsub-carriers or tones with respect to different users in an OFDMAcontext (e.g., such as with respect to FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D includingallocation of sub-carriers to one or more users).

Some versions of the IEEE 802.11 standard have the following physicallayer (PHY) fast Fourier transform (FFT) sizes: 32, 64, 128, 256, 512.

These PHY FFT sizes are mapped to different bandwidths (BWs) (e.g.,which may be achieved using different downclocking ratios or factorsapplied to a first clock signal to generate different other clocksignals such as a second clock signal, a third clock signal, etc.). Inmany locations, this disclosure refers to FFT sizes instead of BW sinceFFT size determines a user's specific allocation of sub-carriers, RUs,etc. and the entire system BW using one or more mappings ofsub-carriers, RUs, etc.

This disclosure presents various ways by which the mapping of N users'sdata into the system BW tones (localized or distributed). For example,if the system BW uses 256 FFT, modulation data for 8 different users caneach use a 32 FFT, respectively. Alternatively, if the system BW uses256 FFT, modulation data for 4 different users can each use a 64 FFT,respectively. In another alternative, if the system BW uses 256 FFT,modulation data for 2 different users can each use a 128 FFT,respectively. Also, any number of other combinations is possible withunequal BW allocated to different users such as 32 FFT to 2 users, 64FFT for one user, and 128 FFT for the last user.

Localized mapping (e.g., contiguous sub-carrier allocations to differentusers such as with reference to FIG. 3D) is preferable for certainapplications such as low mobility users (e.g., that remain stationary orsubstantially stationary and whose location does not change frequently)since each user can be allocated to a sub-band based on at least onecharacteristic. An example of such a characteristic includes allocationto a sub-band that maximizes its performance (e.g., highest SNR orhighest capacity in multi-antenna system). The respective wirelesscommunication devices (users) receive frames or packets (e.g., beacons,null data packet (NDP), data, etc. and/or other frame or packet types)over the entire band and feedback their preferred sub-band or a list ofpreferred sub-bands. Alternatively, a first device (e.g., transmitter,AP, or STA) transmits at least one OFDMA packet to a secondcommunication device, and the second device (e.g., receiver, a STA, oranother STA) may be configured to measure the first device's initialtransmission occupying the entire band and choose a best/good orpreferable sub-band. The second device can be configured to transmit theselection of the information to the first device via feedback, etc.

In some examples, a device is configured to employ PHY designs for 32FFT, 64 FFT and 128 FFT as OFDMA blocks inside of a 256 FFT system BW.When this is done, there can be some unused sub-carriers (e.g., holes ofunused sub-carriers within the provisioned system BW being used). Thiscan also be the case for the lower FFT sizes. In some examples, when anFFT is an integer multiple of another, the larger FFT can be a duplicatea certain number of times of the smaller FFT (e.g., a 512 FFT can be anexact duplicate of two implementations of 256 FFT). In some examples,when using 256 FFT for system BW the available number of tones is 242that can be split among the various users that belong to the OFDMA frameor packet (DL or UL).

In some examples, a PHY design can leave gaps of sub-carriers betweenthe respective wireless communication devices (users) (e.g., unusedsub-carriers). For example, users 1 and 4 may each use a 32 FFTstructure occupying a total of 26×2=52 sub-carriers, user 2 may use a 64FFT occupying 56 sub-carriers and user 3 may use 128 FFT occupying 106sub-carriers adding up to a sum total of 214 sub-carriers leaving 28sub-carriers unused.

In another example, only 32 FFT users are multiplexed allowing up tonine (9) users with 242 sub-carriers−(9 users×26 RUs)=eight (8) unusedsub-carriers between the users. In yet another example, four (4) 64 FFTusers are multiplexed with 242 sub-carriers−(4 users×56 RUs)=18 unusedsub-carriers.

The unused sub-carriers can be used to provide better separation betweenusers especially in the UL where users's energy can spill into eachother due to imperfect time/frequency/power synchronization creatinginter-carrier interference (ICI).

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating another example 601 of various typesof different RUs. In this example 601, RU 1 includes X1 totalsub-carrier(s), X2 data (D) sub-carrier(s), X3 pilot (P) sub-carrier(s),and X4 unused sub-carrier(s). RU 2 includes Y1 total sub-carrier(s), Y2D sub-carrier(s), Y3 P sub-carrier(s), and Y4 unused sub-carrier(s). RUq includes Z1 total sub-carrier(s), Z2 D sub-carrier(s), Z3 Psub-carrier(s), and Z4 unused sub-carrier(s). In this example 601, notethat different RUs can include different spacing between thesub-carriers, different sub-carrier densities, implemented withindifferent frequency bands, span different ranges within at least onefrequency band, etc.

FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating another example 602 of various typesof different RUs. This diagram shows RU 1 that includes 26 contiguoussub-carriers that include 24 data sub-carriers, and 2 pilotsub-carriers; RU 2 that includes 52 contiguous sub-carriers that include48 data sub-carriers, and 4 pilot sub-carriers; RU 3 that includes 106contiguous sub-carriers that include 102 data sub-carriers, and 4 pilotsub-carriers; RU 4 that includes 242 contiguous sub-carriers thatinclude 234 data sub-carriers, and 8 pilot sub-carriers; RU 5 thatincludes 484 contiguous sub-carriers that include 468 data sub-carriers,and 16 pilot sub-carriers; and RU 6 that includes 996 contiguoussub-carriers that include 980 data sub-carriers, and 16 pilotsub-carriers.

Note that RU 2 and RU 3 include a first/same number of pilotsub-carriers (e.g., 4 pilot sub-carriers each), and RU 5 and RU 6include a second/same number of pilot sub-carriers (e.g., 16 pilotsub-carriers each). The number of pilot sub-carriers remains same orincreases across the RUs. Note also that some of the RUs include aninteger multiple number of sub-carriers of other RUs (e.g., RU 2includes 52 total sub-carriers, which is 2× the 26 total sub-carriers ofRU 1, and RU 5 includes 484 total sub-carriers, which is 2× the 242total sub-carriers of RU 4).

FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating an example 603 of various types ofcommunication protocol specified physical layer (PHY) fast Fouriertransform (FFT) sizes. The device 310 is configured to generate andtransmit OFDMA packets based on various PHY FFT sizes as specifiedwithin at least one communication protocol. Some examples of PHY FFTsizes, such as based on IEEE 802.11, include PHY FFT sizes such as 32,64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, and/or other sizes.

In one example, the device 310 is configured to generate and transmit anOFDMA packet based on RU 1 that includes 26 contiguous sub-carriers thatinclude 24 data sub-carriers, and 2 pilot sub-carriers and to transmitthat OFDMA packet based on a PHY FFT 32 (e.g., the RU 1 fits within thePHY FFT 32). In one example, the device 310 is configured to generateand transmit an OFDMA packet based on RU 2 that includes 52 contiguoussub-carriers that include 48 data sub-carriers, and 4 pilot sub-carriersand to transmit that OFDMA packet based on a PHY FFT 56 (e.g., the RU 2fits within the PHY FFT 56). The device 310 uses other sized RUs forother sized PHY FFTs based on at least one communication protocol.

Note also that any combination of RUs may be used. In another example,the device 310 is configured to generate and transmit an OFDMA packetbased on two RUs based on RU 1 and one RU based on RU 2 based on a PHYFFT 128 (e.g., two RUs based on RU 1 and one RU based on RU 2 includes atotal of 104 sub-carriers). The device 310 is configured to generate andtransmit any OFDMA packets based on any combination of RUs that can fitwithin an appropriately selected PHY FFT size of at least onecommunication protocol.

Note also that any given RU may be sub-divided or partitioned intosubsets of sub-carriers to carry modulation data for one or more users(e.g., such as with respect to FIG. 3C or FIG. 3D).

FIG. 6D is a diagram illustrating an example 604 of different channelbandwidths and relationship there between. In one example, a device(e.g., the device 310) is configured to generate and transmit any OFDMApacket based on any of a number of OFDMA frame structures within variouscommunication channels having various channel bandwidths. For example, a160 MHz channel may be subdivided into two 80 MHz channels. An 80 MHzchannel may be subdivided into two 40 MHz channels. A 40 MHz channel maybe subdivided into two 20 MHz channels. Note also such channels may belocated within the same frequency band, the same frequency sub-band oralternatively among different frequency bands, different frequencysub-bands, etc.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an example 701 of OFDMA/TDMA feedback.Time division multiple access (TDMA) (e.g., such that different symbolsmay be transmitted at different times, e.g., S#1, S#2, S#3) may be usedin combination with orthogonal frequency division multiple access(OFDMA) (e.g., such as described with reference to FIG. 3A-3E). Aresponse from a WDEV may be a combination of OFDMA and TDMA. Feedbackfrom N STA may be performed using a ceiling function, e.g., ceil(N/9)symbols in 20 MHz, ceil(N/36) symbols in 80 MHz.

Each STA may be uniquely assigned particular sets of OFDMA sub-carrierson which to provide responses. For example, note that a wirelesscommunication device (e.g., a STA) is assigned a TONE_SET_INDEX for itsfeedback response. Such an index (e.g., TONE_SET_INDEX) define the twoset of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers that the wireless communication device usesfor its response. Such operation avoids collision, and this provides noissues with respect to near/far STA.

FIG. 7A shows an example of feedback from 25 users (e.g., 25 wirelessstations (STAs), receivers, etc.). The feedback may be implemented using3 symbols (e.g., −1, +1, and 0). This example shows receiving “YES” fromSTAs with IDs: 5, 8, 18, 22 and 25 (hashed), and “NO” from the remainingSTA IDs (not hashed/solid).

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an example 702 of a simulation ofoperation. A detection method, approach, etc. may be implemented asfollows:

Detection method (3 outcomes): P1=sum(power in A locations),P0=sum(power in B locations), K=2; % decision scaling factor

(P1>K·P0)→YES

(P0>K·P1)→NO

(not(YES) & not(NO))→No response

In some examples, SNR may be calibrated for each 26 tones RU (e.g., per2 MHz channel or sub-channel).

An alternate detection method, approach, etc. may be implemented asfollows (for K=1):

Detection method (2 outcomes): P1=sum(power in A locations),P0=sum(power in B locations), K=1; % Scaling factor for decision

(P1≥K·P0)→YES

(P0>K P1)→NO

Sequence options: 1 and 2

Examples of different sequence options are described below.

1. Barker 13 sequence, PAPR is 2.84 or 3.90 dB (center RU26):

[+1, +1, +1, +1, +1, −1, −1, +1, +1, −1, +1, −1, +1];

2. HE-LTF 2X sequence (e.g., such as described in the developing IEEE802.11ax standard), PAPRs is from 3.27 to 4.96 dB (center RU26):

“YES”: All RU26 except center RU26, use same indices as HE-LTF 2X.Center RU26, remove tone at −16 and shift negative indices tones by −1(see Table 1 above).

“NO”: All RU26 except center RU26, use odd tone indices by shiftingHE-LTF 2X sequence tone indices by +1 or −1. Center RU26, remove tone at+16 and shift positive indices tones by +1 (see Table 1 above).

Note: the probability of errors is same for both sequences. Note alsothat the Barker sequence has lower PAPR and cyclic shift of sequence(low cross-correlation) could be used to expand the number and type ofresponse.

FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating another example 703 of OFDMA/TDMAfeedback. Time division multiple access (TDMA) (e.g., such thatdifferent symbols may be transmitted at different times, e.g., S#1, S#2,S#3) may be used in combination with orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA) (e.g., such as described with reference to FIG.3A-3E). Note that MU responses may be based on OFDMA and TDMA.

A response from a WDEV may be a combination of OFMA and TDMA. Feedbackfrom N STA may be performed using a ceiling function, e.g., ceil(N/9)symbols in 20 MHz, ceil(N/36) symbols in 80 MHz.

Each STA may be uniquely assigned one Resource Block (RB) consisting ofone RU26 (e.g., energy sent only on the assigned RU26). Such operationavoids collision, and this provides no issues with respect to near/farSTA.

This example 703 of feedback from 25 users operates using 3 symbols(e.g., 3 symbols of N bits each). A “YES” from STA ID: 5, 8, 10, 14, 22and 25. A “NO response” from STA ID: 18. A “NO” from the remaining STAIDs.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example 800 of OFDMA/spatial stream(SS) feedback. This diagram shows an option of multi-user (MU) based onorthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)/Spatial stream(SS) Feedback. Multiple user (MU) responses are OFDMA and orthogonal byencoding with the P-Matrix in the time direction. Each STA is uniquelyassigned one Resource Block (RB) consisting of one orthogonal allocationon one RU26. This operates with no collisions.

This diagram shows an example of feedback for up to 36 users. This uses4×4 P-Matrix. The sequence is HE-LTF 2X or Barker 13. A “YES” on RB #21:Sequence is sent on sub-carrier/tone indices [18:2:42], repeating for 4symbols and encoded with P-Matrix row 1. A “NO” on RB #11: Sequence issent on sub-carrier/tone indices [−67:2:−43], repeating for 4 symbolsand encoded with P-Matrix row 3.

FIG. 9 is a diagram 900 illustrating an example of proposed feedbackschemes. Note that the sets of OFDMA sub-carriers (e.g., a first set of6 OFDMA sub-carriers and a second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers) may belocated in different portions of the communication channel, OFDMAsub-carriers, bandwidth, etc. In some examples, the sub-carrier/tone setassigned to a first wireless communication device in an RU areinterleaved with respect to one or more spatial streams therebyproviding spatial diversity and/or one or more OFDM/A symbols therebyproviding temporal diversity. In this diagram, 4 different wirelesscommunication devices (e.g., shown as STA1, STA2, STA3, and STA4 in thediagram) and the respective sub-carrier/tone sets are assigned such thattwo sets of OFDMA sub-carriers are used to transmit 1 bit. For example,if the bit value to be sent is 1 (e.g., b_(x)=1, such as possiblycorresponding to a yes answer, a set answer, etc.), then the STA1 isconfigured to send energy on the first tone set and remain quiet on thesecond tone set that is assigned to it. Alternatively, if the bit valueto be sent is 0 (e.g., b_(x)=0, such as possibly corresponding to a noanswer, a not set answer, etc.), then the STA1 is configured to sendenergy on the second tone set and remain quiet on the first tone setthat is assigned to it.

Note that different wireless communication devices/users/STAs may bemultiplexed using at least one P-matrix (and/or potentially differentsub-carrier/tone sets). In addition, if desired in some embodiments,different respective states of the same wireless communicationdevice/user/STA may be separated with different sub-carrier/tone sets.

FIG. 10 is a diagram 1000 illustrating an example of tones(sub-carriers) user per wireless communication device (e.g., user, STA,etc.) in a 20 MHz bandwidth. Considering one implementation of thisdiagram, when implementing a 1 bit response: there can be up to 18 STAssend b0=1 or 0. In other examples, when implementing a 2 bit response:there can be up to 9 STAs send column b0=1 or 0 and b1=1 or 0. In evenother examples, when implementing 1 bit response with Power LimitedSpectral Density: there can be up to 9 STAs send b0=b1=1 or b0=b1=0. The1 bit response is duplicated on both b1 and b0.

This also diagram shows tone/sub-carriers set indices for 20, 40, 80 and160 MHz. For example, with respect to 20 MHz tones/sub-carriers used forUL feedback (up to 216 tones): I_(Ulf). For 40 MHz tones/sub-carriersused for UL feedback (up to 432 tones): I_(ULf)−128, I_(ULf)+128. For 80MHz tones/sub-carriers used for UL feedback (864 tones): I_(ULf)−384,I_(ULf)−128, I_(ULf)+128, I_(ULf)+384. For 80+80 MHz, 160 MHztones/sub-carriers used for UL feedback (up to 1728 tones): same as 80MHz on lower and upper 80 MHz.

In addition, with respect to OFDMA sub-carrier plans that operate forwireless communication devices (e.g., STAs) that operate based on a 20MHz communication channel and other wireless communication devices(e.g., STAs) that operate based on a 40 and/or 80 MHz communicationchannel, the sub-carriers/tones may be aligned centrally with respect tothe various OFDMA sub-carrier plans. For example, the sub-carriers/tonesassigned from one or more RUs within the respective sub-carrier plansmay be aligned (e.g., such as using sub-carriers/tones at [−116:−2,2:116]) such that the sub-carriers/tones are common to the 20 MHz OFDMAsub-carrier plan that is tailored for 20 MHz only operative wirelesscommunication devices (e.g., STAs), as well as with respect to the 40and 80 MHz OFDMA sub-carrier plans.

This disclosure presents, among other things, various aspects,embodiments, and/or examples that operate by selecting tones(sub-carriers) that are common to 20 MHz only operative wirelesscommunication devices (e.g., STA(s)) and 40 MHz or 80 MHz operativewireless communication devices (e.g., AP(s) and/or STA(s)). This changeallows the 20 MHz only operative wireless communication devices (e.g.,STA(s)) to send their Uplink (UL) response at the same time with 40 MHzand 80 MHz operative wireless communication devices (e.g., AP(s) and/orSTA(s)).

For example, considering an OFDMA sub-carriers plan (e.g., such as inaccordance with the developing IEEE 802.11ax), the tones (sub-carriers)indices of four 20 MHz only STA on the tone (sub-carrier) grid for 40/80MHz AP. Because there are extra tones (sub-carriers) within a given RU,but not enough to allow the addition of another user, some tones(sub-carriers) near DC and at edges of band are discarded or not used tominimize degradation from DC and filtering.

For example, in this diagram, there are two set of 6 tones(sub-carriers) used for 1 bit and four set of 6 tones (sub-carriers) for2 bits. The table is per 20 MHz. For 40 MHz, the number of users double,the indices are: I−128 and I+128. For 80 MHz, the number of usersquadruple, the indices are: I−384, I+128, I+128 and I+384.

The “YES” b0=1 and the “NO” b0=0 tones (sub-carriers) are immediatelyadjacent. This improves the robustness in presence of interference.Interferences are likely to add power to adjacent subcarriers, biasingthe receiver decision toward a “No Response”. A “No Response” bias is abetter outcome than a “YES” or “NO” bias.

Note that may be some regions or locations where the Power SpectralDensity of signal is limited, it is calculated by 1 MHz segments. Thenew proposal spread the UL response 6 or 12 tones (sub-carriers) over 20MHz instead of 2 MHz (a singleRU-26). This measure allows the STA tosend the response with more power. To avoid triggering a false Radardetection in the DFS band, the 6 tones (sub-carriers) are spread over 20MHz instead of 2 MHz. Note that for power spectral limited transmission,a wireless communication device (e.g., STA) may be implemented to use 2bits to send a 1 bit response. In such cases, the wireless communicationdevice (e.g., STA) can use b1b0=11 or 00.

FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method 1100 forexecution by at least one wireless communication device. The method 1101operates in step 1110 by supporting (e.g., via a communication interfaceof a wireless communication device) first communications with anotherwireless communication device to determine an agreed-upon orthogonalfrequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource unit (RU) of aplurality of OFDMA RUs and a plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carrierswithin the OFDMA RU to be used by the another wireless communicationdevice to provide one or more predetermined responses to the wirelesscommunication device in accordance with second communications.

The method 1101 then operates in accordance with the secondcommunications. For example, the method 1101 continues in step 1120 bytransmitting (e.g., via the communication interface) a question to thewireless communication device wireless communication device. The method1101 then operates in step 1130 by processing the plurality ofagreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to determine whetherenergy therein indicates a response of the one or more predeterminedresponses to the question being received from the other wirelesscommunication device.

FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method 1102for execution by at least one wireless communication device. The method1102 operates in step 1111 by supporting (e.g., via a communicationinterface of a wireless communication device) first communications witha first other wireless communication device and a second other wirelesscommunication device to determine an agreed-upon orthogonal frequencydivision multiple access (OFDMA) resource unit (RU) of a plurality ofOFDMA RUs and a first plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers withinthe OFDMA RU to be used by the first other wireless communication deviceto provide one or more predetermined responses to the wirelesscommunication device and a second plurality of agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to be used by the second other wirelesscommunication device to provide the one or more predetermined responsesto the wireless communication device in accordance with secondcommunications.

The method 1102 then operates in accordance with the secondcommunications. The method 1102 continues in step 1121 by transmitting(e.g., via the communication interface) an OFDMA frame that includes afirst question to the first other wireless communication device and asecond question to the second other wireless communication device.

The method 1102 then operates in step 1131 by processing the firstplurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU todetermine whether energy therein indicates a first response of the oneor more predetermined responses to the first question from the firstother wireless communication device. The method 1102 then continues instep 1141 by processing the second plurality of agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to determine whether energy thereinindicates a second response of the one or more predetermined responsesto the second question from the second other wireless communicationdevice.

This disclosure presents, among other things, various examples wherefeedback includes 3 states: “YES”, “NO,” or “No response”. In someexamples, this is done by using 2 sets of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers/toneseach for 2 other wireless communication devices in a 26 tones RU (orvice versa). Different sets of sub-carriers may be assigned within theRU. Short feedback can used for other purpose than just a “YES” or “NO”response. In some examples, feedback could be an answer for a questionhaving 2 (or more) corresponding possible answers.

Examples of such questions may include: (1) Does the wirelesscommunication device have traffic in your queue for >20 mS, >100 mS? (3)How many bytes are buffered in the wireless communication device fortransmission >1000 bytes, >5000 bytes? And (3) How many packets arebuffered in the wireless communication device for transmission >5packets, >15 packets?

In some examples, this disclosure also proposes to scale one measurementof an answer/feedback response (e.g., based on a scaling factor) andcompare it to the other measurement of an answer/feedback response todeclare is one state is true or not (e.g., compare the sum of energyand/or power at complementary sets of sub-carriers/tones). This caneliminate any need of tracking the channel noise, measured at one ormore different times, to adjust a threshold. This novel scheme is veryrobust to change in the channel conditions and interference.

Also, note that one RU26 (e.g., a resource unit (RU) with 26sub-carriers/tones) could be subdivided in frequency to multiplexmultiple wireless stations (STAs). This frequency division multipleaccess (FDMA) technique allow more STA per symbol in the feedbackresponse.

In some specific examples, this disclosure presents that variousexamples include 4 sets of 6 sub-carriers/tones per RU26 (e.g., using 24total out of 26 sub-carriers/tones). For example, the two sets of 6sub-carriers/tones are assigned to a first WDEV/STA #1 and the secondset is assigned to a second WDEV/STA #2. With this technique, thisdisclosure proposes that a wireless communication device can signal afeedback response with an affirmative “YES” and “NO”. A determination ofno response may be determined based on a situation when neither anaffirmative “YES” nor an affirmative “NO” may be determined.

For example, considering a OFDM sub-carrier plan that includes 9 RUs of26 sub-carriers/tones in 20 MHz (e.g., such as with respect to thedeveloping IEEE 802.11ax), each 26 tones RU are sub-divided into foursets of 6 sub-carriers/tones. In some examples, 2 sets of 6sub-carriers/tones each may be used and assigned to a given wirelesscommunication device/STA. In a specific implementation, 6sub-carrier/tone sets are chosen to pack 2 users per 26 sub-carrier/toneRU. Also, 6 sub-carrier/tone sets have enough frequency diversity per 26sub-carrier/tone RU. One bit or two bits (or even more bits) areassigned to one user feedback response.

In a specific example, two sets of 6 sub-carrier/tone are used totransmit 1 bit responses (e.g., yes or no, set or not set, etc.). Notethat channel estimation is not needed for detection. Also, theparticipating wireless communication devices (e.g., an AP and one ormore STAs) operate to support prior communications (e.g., frameexchanges) to have a prior agreement on which specific one or more RUsand which specific sub-carrier/tone sets within the one or more RUs areto be used in accordance with such subsequent communications such astransmitting question(s) and receiving response(s). Note also that oneor more P-matrices spreading may also be used for given response(s).

It is noted that while certain examples provided herein use the exampleof a certain number of sub-carriers within a given resource unit (RU)and/or a certain subset of sub-carriers within an RU on which energy isincluded to effectuate a given response (e.g., a first response such asa yes response when energy is included on a first subset of sub-carrierswithin the RU(s) or alternatively a second response such as a noresponse when energy is included on a second subset of sub-carrierswithin the RU(s)). Specifically, some examples may use 6 sub-carrierssets, etc. In general, the various aspects, embodiments, and/or examplesof the invention as presented herein may be applied and used in specificexamples of any desired size.

In general, a communication channel may include any desiredcommunication channel or sub-channel of a communication channelbandwidth size, desired number of RUs or any desired size, and anydesired number of sub-carriers may be included within those one or moreRUs (and different numbers of sub-carriers may be included in differentRUs), and any desired first one or more sub-carriers may be used toeffectuate a first response (e.g., a yes) and any desired second one ormore sub-carriers may be used to effectuate a second response (e.g., ano), any desired P-matrix of any size and dimension may be used (or notused), any desired sequence of any desired type (e.g., such as a Barkersequence, or not used), any combination of used and unused sub-carrierswithin one or more RU(s), any combination of two or more RUs, any numberof symbols, etc. and/or any other variations of the specific numbers andvalues of specific parameters as are used herein.

For example, while one specific example includes 4 sets of 6sub-carriers each within a RU such as an RU with 26 sub-carriers. Notethat the respective sets of 6 sub-carriers may be spread across a 20 MHzcommunication channel such that the respective sets of 6 sub-carriersare not composed respective or entirely of adjacently located orcontiguous sub-carriers (e.g., having some similarities to theprinciples shown with respect to FIG. 3C with respect to differentrespective sets of sub-carriers assigned to different respective users).Also, within some example that operate based on different respectivecommunication channels and/or sub-communication channels (e.g., such as20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, etc.), with respect to the sub-carriers locatedtherein, some examples employ only sub-carriers that are common to therespective different respective communication channels and/orsub-communication channels. Some other examples used adjacentsub-carriers sets for different respective responses (e.g., a firstsub-carrier set for a first response such as a yes response, and asecond first sub-carrier set for a second response such as a noresponse). Also, some examples may operate not to use certainsub-carriers (e.g., unused sub-carriers) that are at specific locations(e.g., such as the −2 and +2 sub-carrier indices within each respective20 MHz portion).

Another specific example includes 2 sets of 6 sub-carriers each withinan RU such as an RU with 26 sub-carriers. In general, any alternativecombination of sub-carriers within such an RU or 26 sub-carriers may beused without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also,any one or more unused sub-carriers may be included in any specificexample of various combinations or sets of sub-carriers within any oneor more RUs. As some other examples considering an RU with 26sub-carriers, there could be 8 sets of 3 sub-carriers each, 7 sets of 3sub-carriers each, 6 sets of 4 sub-carriers each, 5 sets of 5sub-carriers, 4 sets of 6 sub-carriers, 3 sets of 8 sub-carriers, 2 setsof 13 sub-carriers each, 2 sets of 12 sub-carriers each, etc. Ingeneral, any specific number of sets of sub-carriers and any desiredspecific numbers of sub-carriers maybe included in each respective setof sub-carriers. Note also that such principles may be extended to anyother sized RU with any other number of sub-carriers.

It is noted that the various operations and functions described withinvarious methods herein may be performed within a wireless communicationdevice (e.g., such as by the processing circuitry 330, communicationinterface 320, and memory 340 or other configuration of circuitries suchas SOC 330 a and/or processing-memory circuitry 330 b such as describedwith reference to FIG. 2B) and/or other components therein. Generally, acommunication interface and processing circuitry (or alternativelyprocessing circuitry that includes communication interfacefunctionality, components, circuitry, etc.) in a wireless communicationdevice can perform such operations.

Examples of some components may include one or more baseband processingmodules, one or more media access control (MAC) layer components, one ormore physical layer (PHY) components, and/or other components, etc. Forexample, such processing circuitry can perform baseband processingoperations and can operate in conjunction with a radio, analog front end(AFE), etc. The processing circuitry can generate such signals, packets,frames, and/or equivalents etc. as described herein as well as performvarious operations described herein and/or their respective equivalents.

In some embodiments, such a baseband processing module and/or aprocessing module (which may be implemented in the same device orseparate devices) can perform such processing to generate signals fortransmission to another wireless communication device using any numberof radios and antennas. In some embodiments, such processing isperformed cooperatively by processing circuitry in a first device andanother processing circuitry within a second device. In otherembodiments, such processing is performed wholly by processing circuitrywithin one device.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “configured to,” “operably coupled to,” “coupled to,” and/or“coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirectcoupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item includes,but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit, and/or amodule) where, for an example of indirect coupling, the intervening itemdoes not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its currentlevel, voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein,inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another elementby inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items inthe same manner as “coupled to”. As may even further be used herein, theterm “configured to,” “operable to,” “coupled to,” or “operably coupledto” indicates that an item includes one or more of power connections,input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, one or more itscorresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to oneor more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term“associated with,” includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separateitems and/or one item being embedded within another item.

As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably” or equivalent,indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc.,provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desiredrelationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, afavorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude of signal 1 isgreater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude of signal 2 is lessthan that of signal 1.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module,” “processingcircuit,” “processor,” and/or “processing unit” or their equivalents maybe a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Sucha processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digitalsignal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of thecircuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module,module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit may be, or furtherinclude, memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be asingle memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embeddedcircuitry of another processing module, module, processing circuit,and/or processing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory,random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, staticmemory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any devicethat stores digital information. Note that if the processing module,module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more thanone processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located(e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless busstructure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing viaindirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network).Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via astate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the correspondingoperational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, thecircuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memoryelement may store, and the processing module, module, processingcircuit, and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operationalinstructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/orfunctions illustrated in one or more of the Figures. Such a memorydevice or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture.

One or more embodiments of an invention have been described above withthe aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specifiedfunctions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence ofthese functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarilydefined herein for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries andsequences can be defined so long as the specified functions andrelationships are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundariesor sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claims.Further, the boundaries of these functional building blocks have beenarbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate boundariescould be defined as long as the certain significant functions areappropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also havebeen arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significantfunctionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries andsequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certainsignificant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functionalbuilding blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus withinthe scope and spirit of the claimed invention. One of average skill inthe art will also recognize that the functional building blocks, andother illustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can beimplemented as illustrated or by discrete components, applicationspecific integrated circuits, processing circuitries, processorsexecuting appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or moreaspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or moreexamples of the invention. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, anarticle of manufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include oneor more of the aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. describedwith reference to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein.Further, from figure to figure, the embodiments may incorporate the sameor similarly named functions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the sameor different reference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps,modules, etc. may be the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc.or different ones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/orbetween elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein maybe analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-endedor differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as asingle-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path.Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it alsorepresents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particulararchitectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise beimplemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, directconnectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between otherelements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of theembodiments. A module includes a processing module, a processor, afunctional block, processing circuitry, hardware, and/or memory thatstores operational instructions for performing one or more functions asmay be described herein. Note that, if the module is implemented viahardware, the hardware may operate independently and/or in conjunctionwith software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may containone or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of theone or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, othercombinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. Thepresent disclosure of an invention is not limited by the particularexamples disclosed herein and expressly incorporates these othercombinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless communication device comprising: acommunication interface; and processing circuitry that is coupled to thecommunication interface, wherein at least one of the communicationinterface or the processing circuitry configured to: support firstcommunications with another wireless communication device to determinean agreed-upon orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)resource unit (RU) of a plurality of OFDMA RUs and a plurality ofagreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to be used by theanother wireless communication device to provide one or morepredetermined responses to the wireless communication device inaccordance with second communications, wherein the agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers within the OFDMA RU for the wireless communication deviceand the another wireless communication device are grouped in adjacentgroups; and in accordance with the second communications, transmit aquestion to the another wireless communication device and process theplurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU todetermine whether energy therein indicates a response of the one or morepredetermined responses to the question being received from the anotherwireless communication device.
 2. The wireless communication device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one of the communication interface or theprocessing circuitry is further configured to: support thirdcommunications with a first other wireless communication device and asecond other wireless communication device to determine anotheragreed-upon OFDMA RU of the plurality of OFDMA RUs and a first otherplurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the another OFDMA RUto be used by the first other wireless communication device to providethe one or more predetermined responses to the wireless communicationdevice in accordance with fourth communications and a second otherplurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the another OFDMA RUto be used by the second other wireless communication device to providethe one or more predetermined responses to the wireless communicationdevice in accordance with the fourth communications; and in accordancewith the fourth communications: transmit an OFDMA frame that includes afirst other question to the first other wireless communication deviceand a second other question to the second other wireless communicationdevice; process the first other plurality of agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers within the another OFDMA RU to determine whether energytherein indicates a first other response of the one or morepredetermined responses to the first other question from the first otherwireless communication device; and process the second other plurality ofagreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the another OFDMA RU to determinewhether energy therein indicates a second other response of the one ormore predetermined responses to the second other question from thesecond other wireless communication device.
 3. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1, wherein: the OFDMA RU of the pluralityof OFDMA RUs is based on a 20 MHz communication channel; the pluralityof agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU that is based onthe 20 MHz communication channel includes a first set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers and a second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers; first energywithin the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers being greater than secondenergy within the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on a scalingfactor corresponding to a first predetermined response of the one ormore predetermined responses to the question being received from theanother wireless communication device; and the second energy within thesecond set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers being greater than the first energywithin the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on the scaling factorcorresponding to a second predetermined response of the one or morepredetermined responses to the question being received from the anotherwireless communication device.
 4. The wireless communication device ofclaim 3, wherein: the first energy within the first set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers not being greater than the second energy within the secondset of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on the scaling factor and the secondenergy within the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers not being greaterthan the first energy within the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers basedon the scaling factor corresponding to no response to the question beingreceived from the another wireless communication device.
 5. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1, wherein: the OFDMA RU of the pluralityof OFDMA RUs is based on a 20 MHz communication channel; the pluralityof agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU that is based onthe 20 MHz communication channel includes a first set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers and a second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers; first energywithin fewer than all of the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers beinggreater than second energy within fewer than all of the second set of 6OFDMA sub-carriers based on a scaling factor corresponding to a firstpredetermined response of the one or more predetermined responses to thequestion being received from the another wireless communication device;and the second energy within the fewer than all of the second set of 6OFDMA sub-carriers being greater than the first energy within the fewerthan all of the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on the scalingfactor corresponding to a second predetermined response of the one ormore predetermined responses to the question being received from theanother wireless communication device.
 6. The wireless communicationdevice of claim 5, wherein: the first predetermined response of the oneor more predetermined responses includes a first 1-bit predeterminedresponse; and the second predetermined response of the one or morepredetermined responses includes a second 1-bit predetermined response.7. The wireless communication device of claim 1 further comprising: anaccess point (AP), wherein the another wireless communication deviceincludes a wireless station (STA).
 8. The wireless communication deviceof claim 1 further comprising: a wireless station (STA), wherein theanother wireless communication device includes at least one of an accesspoint (AP) or another STA.
 9. A wireless communication devicecomprising: a communication interface; and processing circuitry that iscoupled to the communication interface, wherein at least one of thecommunication interface or the processing circuitry configured to:support first communications with a first other wireless communicationdevice and a second other wireless communication device to determine anagreed-upon orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)resource unit (RU) of a plurality of OFDMA RUs and a first plurality ofagreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to be used by thefirst other wireless communication device to provide one or morepredetermined responses to the wireless communication device and asecond plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RUto be used by the second other wireless communication device to providethe one or more predetermined responses to the wireless communicationdevice in accordance with second communications, wherein the agreed-uponOFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU for the wireless communicationdevice, the first other wireless communication device and the secondother wireless communication device are grouped in adjacent groups; andin accordance with the second communications: transmit an OFDMA framethat includes a first question to the first other wireless communicationdevice and a second question to the second other wireless communicationdevice; process the first plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carrierswithin the OFDMA RU to determine whether energy therein indicates afirst response of the one or more predetermined responses to the firstquestion from the first other wireless communication device; and processthe second plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMARU to determine whether energy therein indicates a second response ofthe one or more predetermined responses to the second question from thesecond other wireless communication device.
 10. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 9, wherein: the OFDMA RU of the pluralityof OFDMA RUs is based on a 20 MHz communication channel; the firstplurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU that isbased on the 20 MHz communication channel includes a first set of 6OFDMA sub-carriers and a second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers; firstenergy within the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers being greater thansecond energy within the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on ascaling factor corresponding to a first predetermined response of theone or more predetermined responses to the first question being receivedfrom the first other wireless communication device; the second energywithin the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers being greater than thefirst energy within the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on thescaling factor corresponding to a second predetermined response of theone or more predetermined responses to the first question being receivedfrom the first other wireless communication device; the second pluralityof agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU that is based onthe 20 MHz communication channel includes a third set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers and a fourth set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers; third energywithin the third set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers being greater than fourthenergy within the fourth set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on thescaling factor corresponding to a third predetermined response of theone or more predetermined responses to the second question beingreceived from the second other wireless communication device; and thefourth energy within the fourth set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers beinggreater than the third energy within the third set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers based on the scaling factor corresponding to a fourthpredetermined response of the one or more predetermined responses to thesecond question being received from the second other wirelesscommunication device.
 11. The wireless communication device of claim 10,wherein: the first energy within the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriersnot being greater than the second energy within the second set of 6OFDMA sub-carriers based on the scaling factor and the second energywithin the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers not being greater than thefirst energy within the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on thescaling factor corresponding to no response to the first question beingreceived from the first other wireless communication device; and thethird energy within the third set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers not beinggreater than the fourth energy within the fourth set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers based on the scaling factor and the fourth energy withinthe fourth set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers not being greater than the thirdenergy within the third set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on the scalingfactor corresponding to no response to the second question beingreceived from the second other wireless communication device.
 12. Thewireless communication device of claim 9, wherein: the OFDMA RU of theplurality of OFDMA RUs is based on a 20 MHz communication channel; thefirst plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RUthat is based on the 20 MHz communication channel includes a first setof 6 OFDMA sub-carriers and a second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers; firstenergy within fewer than all of the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriersbeing greater than second energy within fewer than all of the second setof 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on a scaling factor corresponding to afirst 1-bit predetermined response of the one or more predeterminedresponses to the first question being received from the first otherwireless communication device; and the second energy within the fewerthan all of the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers being greater thanthe first energy within the fewer than all of the first set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers based on the scaling factor corresponding to a second 1-bitpredetermined response of the one or more predetermined responses to thefirst question being received from the first other wirelesscommunication device.
 13. The wireless communication device of claim 9further comprising: an access point (AP), wherein at least one of thefirst other wireless communication device or the second other wirelesscommunication device includes a wireless station (STA).
 14. A method forexecution by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:supporting, via a communication interface of the wireless communicationdevice, first communications with another wireless communication deviceto determine an agreed-upon orthogonal frequency division multipleaccess (OFDMA) resource unit (RU) of a plurality of OFDMA RUs and aplurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the OFDMA RU to beused by the another wireless communication device to provide one or morepredetermined responses to the wireless communication device inaccordance with second communications, wherein the agreed-upon OFDMAsub-carriers within the OFDMA RU for the wireless communication deviceand the another wireless communication device are interspersed withinthe OFDMA RU; in accordance with the second communications:transmitting, via the communication interface, a question to thewireless communication device wireless communication device; andprocessing the plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within theOFDMA RU to determine whether energy therein indicates a response of theone or more predetermined responses to the question being received fromthe another wireless communication device.
 15. The method of claim 14further comprising: supporting, via the communication interface, thirdcommunications with a first other wireless communication device and asecond other wireless communication device to determine anotheragreed-upon OFDMA RU of the plurality of OFDMA RUs and a first otherplurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the another OFDMA RUto be used by the first other wireless communication device to providethe one or more predetermined responses to the wireless communicationdevice in accordance with fourth communications and a second otherplurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the another OFDMA RUto be used by the second other wireless communication device to providethe one or more predetermined responses to the wireless communicationdevice in accordance with the fourth communications; and in accordancewith the fourth communications: transmitting, via the communicationinterface, an OFDMA frame that includes a first other question to thefirst other wireless communication device and a second other question tothe second other wireless communication device; processing the firstother plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within the anotherOFDMA RU to determine whether energy therein indicates a first otherresponse of the one or more predetermined responses to the first otherquestion from the first other wireless communication device; andprocessing the second other plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carrierswithin the another OFDMA RU to determine whether energy thereinindicates a second other response of the one or more predeterminedresponses to the second other question from the second other wirelesscommunication device.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein: the OFDMA RUof the plurality of OFDMA RUs is based on a 20 MHz communicationchannel; the plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within theOFDMA RU that is based on the 20 MHz communication channel includes afirst set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers and a second set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers; first energy within the first set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriersbeing greater than second energy within the second set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers based on a scaling factor corresponding to a firstpredetermined response of the one or more predetermined responses to thequestion being received from the another wireless communication device;and the second energy within the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriersbeing greater than the first energy within the first set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers based on the scaling factor corresponding to a secondpredetermined response of the one or more predetermined responses to thequestion being received from the another wireless communication device.17. The method of claim 16, wherein: the first energy within the firstset of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers not being greater than the second energywithin the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on the scalingfactor and the second energy within the second set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers not being greater than the first energy within the firstset of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on the scaling factor corresponding tono response to the question being received from the another wirelesscommunication device.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein: the OFDMA RUof the plurality of OFDMA RUs is based on a 20 MHz communicationchannel; the plurality of agreed-upon OFDMA sub-carriers within theOFDMA RU that is based on the 20 MHz communication channel includes afirst set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers and a second set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers; first energy within fewer than all of the first set of 6OFDMA sub-carriers being greater than second energy within fewer thanall of the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers based on a scaling factorcorresponding to a first predetermined response of the one or morepredetermined responses to the question being received from the anotherwireless communication device; and the second energy within the fewerthan all of the second set of 6 OFDMA sub-carriers being greater thanthe first energy within the fewer than all of the first set of 6 OFDMAsub-carriers based on the scaling factor corresponding to a secondpredetermined response of the one or more predetermined responses to thequestion being received from the another wireless communication device.19. The method of claim 18, wherein: the first predetermined response ofthe one or more predetermined responses includes a first 1-bitpredetermined response; and the second predetermined response of the oneor more predetermined responses includes a second 1-bit predeterminedresponse.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless communicationdevice includes an access point (AP), and the another wirelesscommunication device includes a wireless station (STA).